What’s the best way to join shoulder stitches? How about the toe of a sock? Have you ever wondered why a pattern calls for one method of joining pieces to another? Let’s put some joins into practice during this workshop while we work a mattress stitch seam, graft stitches with Kitchener stitch, and work a 3-needle bind-off. We’ll discuss when to use each technique and when you can swap the techniques, too!

Using a US 8 (5mm) knitting needle and medium-color worsted-weight yarn, work 4 swatches as follows and leave them on a stitch holder or spare knitting needle:
Cast on 25 stitches using the long-tail cast-on.
Row 1 (WS): purl 25.
Row 2 (RS): knit 25.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 twice and then work row 1 again. Leave these stitches on a stitch holder or spare knitting needle.

• Smooth worsted weight yarn in a medium color for homework swatches.
• A contrasting color of smooth worsted weight yarn, about 2 yards.
• Tapestry needle.
• 2 pairs of US 8 (5mm) knitting needles for swatches and 3-needle bind off.
• Scissors.