Necklines can make or mar the beauty of a sweater. Instructions for shaping necklines are sometimes pretty vague. Here are a few pointers to help you along.
- While making sweaters, pay special attention to the neckline. It should not be gaping or frilly.
- A crocheted garment does not stretch as much as a knitted one. The opening for the head should therefore comfortably accommodate the head. You don’t want your sweater quarrelling with your ears every time you get it on or off.
- Neck width is usually 1/3 shoulder width.
- The sweater is worked in straight rows until you reach the neckline. At this point the work is divided into 2 and each part is crocheted separately.
- The depth of the back neckline as a rule is lesser than the front.
- The shoulder seams are joined before finishing the edging around the neckline.
- Ribbing gives the neckline an elegant finish.
| STYLE OF NECKLINE | SHAPING BEGINS | NO. OF STITCHES TO BE DECREASED | FORMULA FOR CALCULATING NUMBER OF STITCHES FOR NECK |
| Square | 3” – 6” below shoulder shaping | Nil. Each half is worked separately. | = Total number of stitches - 2 X (number of stitches for shoulder) |
| High round | 2” for adults,1½” for kids. A slit large enough to let the head pass through is needed. The slit is placed at the front or the back depending on whether the garment is for a man or a woman. | 1/3 of sts. To be decreased are left unworked at the center. The two halves of the neck is allotted 1/3 stitches each. Each half is worked separately. | = Total number of stitches - 2 X (number of stitches for shoulder) |
| V-Neck | 6” – 9” below shoulder shaping or just after armhole shaping is started | Each half is worked separately decreasing 1 stitch every other row at the neck edge - always on the right side of work. If when you begin shaping for the V-neck, you have an odd number of stitches, decrease center stitch before dividing work. | = Total number of stitches - 2 X (number of stitches for shoulder) |
The above table should give you a pretty clear idea of how neckline shaping is done.
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