I'm trying to finish a sweater I've been working on for a couple of months, but I can't figure out how to make a hem that doesn't show so much. I've tried picking up stitches but it always comes out a bit uneven. Is there some technique you'd recommend?
The invisible hem is done by picking up stitches from the opposite side, but the most important thing is to use a fine needle and thread that matches the color perfectly, then sew by passing the needle inside the fold of the fabric itself without pulling too tight! If it comes out uneven you're probably picking up too many stitches at once or the thread is too taut - try making small stitches and keeping the tension very light, almost natural. A really good alternative is the pick-up stitch, where you take one stitch from the front and one from the back of the fold alternating them, it's safer if you're just starting out and the result is definitely clean!
The problem you're describing is pretty much universal, and it usually comes down to the tension you're pulling the thread with while you sew. If you pull too hard you get visible puckering, if you don't pull enough the hem stays loose and wavy. What saved me was slowing way down and making small, even stitches, running the needle inside the fold of the fabric for just one or two threads at a time, alternating between the sweater and the folded edge, without ever skipping any sections of the knit. A practical tip: before you start on the whole sweater, try doing a centimeter of hem on a scrap piece of the same yarn, that way you get the right rhythm and the right tension without worrying about ruining two months of work. Change your needle if you feel it's not gliding smoothly through the fabric, because a worn or slightly bent one makes everything harder and more noticeable.
Log into answer.
