So, I was wearing my first basket yoke pullover the other day, and I decided it was time for me to do something about that neckline. It stretches out so much as I wear it, that I can literally barely keep the thing on.

I did a little research on the web and came across some instructions by the Yarn Harlot on stabilizing things like necklines with a crocheted chain. While I didn’t use this method, it looks really useful, so I wanted to share that link with you.

What I did do was take some of the leftover yarn from making the sweater, which is not a very stretchy yarn, and weave it through the neckline to stabilize it.

Here’s a shot of the inside of the neckline after I did this. The bow was just temporary until I decided if I liked that fit. And it makes it easy for you to see that I started and stopped this in the center back, just up by the edge of the neck, but clearly inside the sweater.

Since the yarn is the same color, it’s hard to see, even in a detail, but since this was a seed stitch, I fed the stabilizing strand of yarn under a knit stitch on the top row, then under a purl bump on the row down, up and down, all the way around the sweater, and then tied it in a knot. I did my best to highlight the stabilizing thread in black in the photo below.

I am super excited with how this now looks. It may not seem that different to you compared to the photos I originally posted of this sweater, but believe me, this sweater was doing a serious Flashdance kind of thing and it wasn’t good. And it wasn’t really wearable. But now it’s back to being perfect for bumming around in, and that neckline isn’t going anywhere. Perfect!

New employment update: my husband did get his new contract gig that will last for at least a year (he’s been at it for over two weeks, and I think I just forgot to mention it!). I, unfortunately, did not get the job for which I flew to Connecticut for an interview last week. I’m bummed, but it’s just the start of my search. Time to see what else is out there!