Today you will be finishing the neckline of your sweater. This is the final step to completing your sweater!

This post is for PULLOVER style sweaters only. For cardigan style sweaters please go to Set In Sleeve Day 30: Finishing Cardigan Necklines for instructions.

Neckbands are edges of various sizes applied to blocked pieces to neaten the raw edges. They are generally worked on needles one or two sizes smaller than those used for the body of the sweater. Ribbing is often the stitch pattern of choice because it pulls in nicely and stretches well. ​

Crew or U-Neckband

Using a circular needle or double pointed needles begin by picking  up and knitting stitches  (for a video on how to pick up and knit click HERE) evenly around the entire neckline with the right side of your work facing you, beginning at the center back. For ribbed borders attached to stockinette this is about 3 stitches for every 4 rows along the sides and diagonal edges and 1 stitch in every stitch along each straight (horizontal) edge.

Once you have picked up your stitches make sure that you have the right amount of stitches for your stitch pattern so that it is continuous around the neck. For example if you are working in 1×1 ribbing you will need any odd number of stitches.

Join for working in the round and begin working your edging stitch (most likely ribbing). Continue until you have reached your desired neckband depth. The average neckband for this shape of neckline is 3/4″ to 1 1/2″ deep.

Bind off all stitches loosely in pattern and weave in ends.

Turtleneck

A turtleneck can be made as an extension of a crewneck. Turtlenecks are usually ribbed and can be worked on the same number of stitches as a crewneck changing to a larger needle size as you progress to prevent the folded over portion from pulling up.

V-Neckband

Using a circular needle or double pointed needles begin by picking  up and knitting stitches  (for a video on how to pick up and knit click HERE) evenly around the entire neckline with the right side of your work facing you, beginning at the center back. For ribbed borders attached to stockinette this is about 3 stitches for every 4 rows along the sides and diagonal edges and 1 stitch in every stitch along each straight (horizontal) edge.

​Place a stitch marker at the center point of the V.

Begin working in the round and on every row work in pattern to two stitches before the marker, slip, slip, knit (ssk), slip the marker, knit two together (k2tog), work to the end of the round.

Continue in this manner until you have reached your desired neckband depth. The average neckband for this shape of neckline is 3/4″ to 1 1/2″ deep.

​Remove marker and bind off all stitches in pattern.

Adding A Hood

​This type of finishing is typically worked on a round neckline.

Using a circular needle or double pointed needles begin by picking  up and knitting stitches  (for a video on how to pick up and knit click HERE) evenly around the entire neckline with the right side of your work facing you, beginning at the center front. Leave about 1″ in the center front with no stitches picked up. This is about 3 stitches for every 4 rows along the sides and diagonal edges and 1 stitch in every stitch along each straight (horizontal) edge.

Begin working back and forth over all stitches in your desired stitch pattern. I like to keep things simple and just use Stockinette. Work back and forth until you reach your desired hood depth. To determine the depth, measure from the center top of the head down the side (by your ear) and end at the neckline. When you’ve reached your desired depth, bind off all sts.

Hold the front edges together and use the weaving technique to seam along the top of the hood. 

Pick up and knit 3 stitches for every 4 rows along the front edge of the hood. Work in 1×1 or 2×2 ribbing for 1″ and bind off all stitches in pattern. Overlap the edging at the neckline and seam (through both  layers) to the remaining 1″ of the center front neckline.