Crochet sweaters – understanding necklines

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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