How to Create a Beautiful Armhole in a Knitted Item

When modeling the armhole, it is necessary to close and decrease a certain number of stitches.Stitches should be closed at the beginning of the row, and decreases forming  the armhole should be made within the row or at the edges. This creates a decorative effect (e.g., a border directed to the left or right).

How to close stitches at the beginning of the armhole

On the right side of the product, close the first stitches (the number of stitches is indicated in the work description). Slip 1 stitch without knitting, knit the next according to the pattern and pull it through the slipped stitch. Continue knitting according to the pattern, finish the row and turn the work. On the wrong side, close the stitches in the same way. (Fig 1.)

To finish the armhole, decrease 1 — 2 stitches after the last 2 or 3 stitches of the row. On the right side of the work (at the beginning of the row), knit 2 — 3 stitches according to the pattern and then knit 2 — 3 stitches together with a left slant. To do this, slip the stitch as if for a knit stitch without knitting, knit 1 stitch, pull the knitted stitch through the slipped stitch. (Fig 2.)

Decreasing stitches with needles within the row on the left

On the right side of the work (at the end of the row), knit according to the pattern until the last 4 — 5 stitches. Then knit 2 — 3 stitches together as knit stitches, and then knit the last 2-3 stitches according to the pattern. (Fig 3.)

Now you know how to close and decrease stitches when modeling the armhole.

In the next knitting lesson  about increasing and decreasing stitches with needles within the fabric and at the edges.