Knitting Tip: Improving Tension at the Sleeve Split

I have a pretty simple trick for ensuring that the tension of the stitches at my sleeve split is good.

When knitting a top-down sweater, there is always an instruction to cast on stitches for the underarm when you put your sleeve stitches on hold. I prefer using the backwards loop cast on for these stitches because of how simple it is. However, it almost always results in a lot of extra yarn and loose stitches.

Unless.

Unless you cast on only half the stitches called for in the pattern, and then increase to the full stitch count on the next round. I use the M1R stitch for these additional stitches because it perfectly uses up the extra yarn, giving me consistent, even tension every time.

The placement of the increase stitches varies depending on the number of stitches required, with the general goal being to space the new stitches evenly across the underarm. One thing that doesn’t vary, though, is that I always make 1 at the beginning and end of the underarm section.

So, before I knit the first backwards loop stitch, and after I knit the last backwards loop stitch, I work one M1 increase. This anchors the underarm and helps prevent loose stitches at the transition points.

It’s that simple!

Do you have a different technique you like to use? Did I miss something you’d like me to review in another post? Drop a comment below and let me know!