Bringing your Daingean together: Sleeves & Finishing.
In the final knitting clue of the Daingean knit-along, we return to the sleeves, add those last thoughtful details, and for cardigan knitters, prepare to reinforce and cut the steek. It’s where your Daingean takes its final shape and begins to feel like a finished garment.
Whether you’ve been knitting the Daingean Sweater or the Daingean Cardigan, this stage is all about fit, finish, and personal preference.
What You’ll Knit This Week
In Clue 3, you’ll:
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Return to the held sleeve stitches
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Choose and knit your sleeve length
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Complete your neckline
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For cardigan knitters: reinforce and cut the steek, then add a front edging
Some of these steps are quick, others take a bit of time, especially if you’re trying on and customising as you go but this is where the transformation happens.
Tips & Modifications
Sleeve Options
The Daingean pattern includes two sleeve lengths: long and short.
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Short sleeves worked with a little colourwork and short ribbing.
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Long sleeves taper slightly and finish with a ribbed cuff.
When you return to your sleeve stitches, you’ll pick up additional stitches from the underarm and begin working in the round. It’s normal to have a few small gaps at the pickup points these can be closed during finishing (or by picking up extra stitches).
Methods of working in the round
I usually use a magic loop to work in the round for a small circumference. If you prefer a small circular needle, 2 circular needles or dpns, then use your preferred method. They all work just fine, just use what feels most comfortable for you. You can see a list of these tutorials here.
MODIFYING SLEEVE SIZE
Increasing Upper Arm Size
If you want the upper circumference of your sleeve to be larger than shown in the
pattern, then you will need to pick up extra stitches at the bottom of the armhole (or have already increased the stitches when working the yoke. Pick up an even number of stitches so that you can work the ribbing at the end.
Increasing Cuff Size
If you want extra width at the cuff, reduce the number of Decrease Rounds that you work and space the remaining decrease rounds further apart. Every decrease round has 2 stitches, so leaving one out will increase the cuff size by 0.33" / 0.85 cm.
MODIFYING SLEEVE LENGTH
If you want to change the length and/or shape of your sleeve, take a look at how your arm is shaped to see where best to make the change.
The upper arm is the widest point and stays fairly wide on most people until the elbow. So don’t begin decreases too soon, or you will end up with an upper arm that is too tight. If you are only adding a little bit of length, you probably shouldn't need to move the decrease rounds.
Example:
If you want to add an extra 2” / 5 cm in length.
2 x 9 (rnds per 1") = 18 rnds.
If your wrist is 1" / 2.5 cm smaller than the cardigan cuff size as written, you will need to decrease 1" x 6 sts = 6 stitches. (6 sts every 1" / 2.5 cm).
These happen in pairs, so you will have 3 extra decrease rounds.
Neckline Tips
Once your body and sleeves are complete, it’s time to return to the neckline.
Pick up stitches around the cast-on edge and work a ribbed collar.
When working the collar, if you want to make it snugger, you can even use a smaller needle size to keep it as snug as possible, which will prevent it from stretching out.
If you want a narrower collar, you could also finish with an I-cord edging, but take care to use a larger needle size so that it doesn’t become too small.
For Cardigan Knitters: Reinforcing and Cutting the Steek
Front Edging
If you’ve changed the length of the front of your cardigan, ensure that you adjust the number of stitches that you pick up. Also, ensure you pick up the same number of stitches on each side. If you need to adjust the spacing of your buttonholes, you can use lockable stitch markers to mark the position of each buttonhole and move them around as needed to accommodate the number of stitches that you have.
Steeking
This is the step that can feel the most intimidating but with careful preparation and support, it’s also one of the most satisfying. Before cutting, you’ll reinforce each side of the steek with crochet or a sewn seam. Once secure, you’ll carefully cut between the reinforcement columns to open your cardigan.
If this is your first time steeking, go slowly. Our video tutorials will walk you through each step and you can watch them as many times as you need.
Once cut, you’ll pick up stitches along the front edges and work your button bands or finishing edge.
Live on YouTube
If you have any questions about clue 2 of our Daingean Cardian or Sweater or you'd like to join us for a clue 2 chat you'll find us live on YouTube!
Date: June 5th, 4.30pm Irish time.
Where: Over on YouTube live right here.
Replay Available: Can’t make it live? Watch the replay at your convenience.
Don't forget to drop into Knithub to join the chat!
And if you'd like to join us for the Spring Knit-along just click here.
Share Your Progress
This is the moment to celebrate how far you’ve come.
Whether you’ve finished all your knitting or are still shaping your second sleeve, your Daingean is taking form. Share your photos using #DaingeanKAL or #stolenstitches, tag us on Instagram, or post your updates in Knithub.
Every version is a little different. That’s part of what makes this knit-along so rewarding.
What’s Next
On 19th June, we’ll release the full pattern and announce the grand prize winner.
Make sure you’ve shared your progress to be entered. Full details and final wrap-up will be in the next post.
Until then, take your time and enjoy these final rows.
Your Daingean is almost ready to wear!
