Why I named a tutorial, "Rebel Base."
My husband once joked that I should name a pattern Rebel Base, so that when it downloaded I could send a message, “Here are the plans to the Rebel Base.” What better time to send it than May Fourth?
Jokes are great, but what was I rebelling against?
I decided that I am rebelling against the idea that there is only one way to make a Henley Placket. Because I really wanted the joke.
Nothing is wrong with the standard method of finishing a Henley Neckline
The usual method is perfectly fine. It even uses less yarn than a Rebel Base, I weighed the swatches to compare them. It does have 6 ends to weave in when it’s all done though.
First stitches along one side of the placket were picked up and knit, then worked, the appropriate side included buttonholes, and it was bound off.
Once the other side was worked, stitches for the back of the neck were picked up and knit, including along the selvages of the placket side tabs. When the sweater was finished, all six ends were woven in, and the base was seamed shut.
How is a Rebel Base different?
The stitches at the base of the placket were picked up and knit (or if they were left live, slid onto a needle) the sts were picked up and knit up the placket, across the back of the neck, then down the other side of the placket.
The men’s fold or women’s fold Rebel Base was worked across the bottom, and buttonholes were put on the appropriate side .
On every other round, two increases were made at each corner where the placket meets the back of the neck.
Once the Rebel Base rounds were finished, the whole neckline was bound off, then the bottom was folded and sewn into place, and both ends were woven in. The Ends are started and stopped at just the right place to do the sewing because, I rebel against extra ends to weave in too.
I made two Instagram reels to demonstrate the folds. One for the rib version, and one for the garter stitch version.
I got my idea from the sleeve placket finish in David Page Coffin’s Sewing Shirts book, and by folding a strip of paper.