I'm not sure there is an invisible way to seam garter stitch. I would be tempted to give up on that and make the seams a feature - possibly blanket stitched or crocheted. If you're set on invisible seams I suppose you could try working the seam you were doing from the wrong side so that the less visible side is on the right side. Seams aren't normally quite so visible on garter stitch because you can use the same colour of yarn which will blend in. I guess that isn't really an option when you're sewing blocks of different colours together. Is there a border in a different colour that you could use for visible seams? That might look the best.

I have vowed that I will get better at finishing this year, which means that I am of absolutely no use to you WHATEVER right now.

There MUST be a solution. I, for one, don't know it. Sorry!

My friends and I knitted this blanket for a baby gift last spring--and rather than attempt to learn how to seam garter stitch, I sent it off to Rene of Knits Finished (www.knitsfinished.com). You can see pictures of the finished blanket here: http://flickr.com/photos/lolagetz/176838981/in/set-445218/ She charged us $30 for the seaming, and we were all thrilled with the end product!

yeah, i'd say go with the crochet. there is a invisible vertical seam for garter stitch in the Vogue Knitting Quick Reference - don't know if that helps

This may not be ideal, but it would create a more stable seam. You can pick up stitches on both sides and then do a three needle bind-off.

No advice. To give advice, given my lack of talent in this area, would be unseamly.

Oh, God. Sorry. I'm grading papers AND drinking wine. And the dog ate my wit.

Ditto on the slip-stitch crochet, inserting the hook between the garter stitches. You'll have a raised seam, but as someone said you could consider it a nice design feature.

I also like Maggi's idea to send it out for finishing -- especially if you're completely over it. Let us know what you decide to do. Best of luck!

I took a seaming class from Beth of "Yarn Envy" blog fame and it was amazing. Maybe she could help?

I'd go with a crocheted seam from the back side. The idea of an earlier commentor about picking up stitches and doing a three needle bindoff might be better, as it would stabilize the seam line nicely for you.

I strongly recommend the reverse single crochet. Although it won't be invisible the rope like stitch it leaves adds somewhat of an embelishment. Also, by crocheting it you can stretch the blocks to get them to be the same size. Good Luck!

That totally sucks! All that time and effort.

Good luck with it, whichever route you choose.

everyone beat me to it with the crochet advice. but i'm sure there is a knit soluation. we should have picked melanie falick's brain last night!

I am facing the same task--only my Circle of Friends was knit by seven different folks with varying levels of knitting skills. Despite our attempts to match gauge there is one strip that is significantly smaller than the others. I have until November 4th to seal it up. Good luck!

Won't all seaming do that?

Sorry to have missed you at Rhinebeck this weekend. Will I see you at The Point on Friday?

Uh-oh, now I'm nervous about seaming up this:
http://beaknits.blogspot.com/2006/09/robby-cubed-knitting-projects.html
If I figure out a solution, I'll let you know! I was thinking of doing something like the mattress stitch but picking up the little bumps on the side formed or the horizontal bars one stitch in from the edge, that would leave a ridge in the back, but might be invisible in the front.

This is why I'm glad I read the comments: I would've never thought of crochet for seaming! I think it's a great idea.

too bad no one has come up with clear yarn for seaming.

KnittingHelp.com has a great way to seam garter stitch. I did it here: http://www.rapidlightning.com/andalee/?p=34 on a garter stitch wool diaper cover I made a little while ago. I seamed with the same yarn I used for the project, and it worked really well.

(The link above is a little wonky in FireFox, but shows up just fine in IE. I'm working on it. ;o)

Happy seaming!

I wish I could help you out, but that's how seams look on all of my projects no matter what the stitch I used. I suggest crocheted seams so they become a decorative feature.

Thanks, but no, I don't think I'll be coming over to seam for you. Ew, what a not-fun task to have to do right after Rhinebeck! You need to thrum some mittens to cheer yourself back up. ;)

the only time i can do garter stitch invisibly is if it's the same color yarn... and even then not so well. i do find that the pulling makes that gathering happen for me too. i'm not much help here but i second both of the great ideas in the comments: 1. crochet in a contrast color and make it a design element, 2. get someone else to do it. your sanity is worth $30. good luck!

What nightmare!
I have never tried to do that so can't really help you. Sorry.
Just wanted to sympathize.

Jess, this sucks, my only advice would be seam in on a sewing machine, sometimes it does the trick, as long as thread stitched are smaller and not that visible.
I bet you had fun in Rhinebeck!

I've got no new advice either, tho did learn from everyone else as well. I'm impressed that you came home with a mini-haul from Rhinebeck. How many times did you have to go to the car to unload your goodies?

To avoid the gathering, you have to pull the yarn at both ends, not just from one! :)

I've never had a problem with seaming garter stitch (I've done a few square blankets). I just did mattress stitch, and made sure it was pulled fairly tight (from both ends, as I mentioned above). Maybe my garter stitch was a tighter gauge so it wasn't flimsy? Your guess is as good as mine.

I like seaming garter stitch side-edge-to-side-edge like that. I pick up the under-bumps on one piece and the over-bumps on the other, and when the two pieces are the same color it truly is invisible on the right side. And it shouldn't pull in, either - don't pull it *that* snug, just snug enough that the join looks like another garter bump. The wrong side has a ridge, but most wrong sides do. I think I first learned to seam this way out of Stitch 'n' Bitch, if you want the truth. Crochet drives me batty because I'm both slow and inconsistent at it, so I never use the crochet seam.

Hmm, you're right, seaming garter stitch is really tricky. But then again, I think only a knitter would look at that with such a critical eye and think: "oh, the seaming yarn shows on the right side!" One thing I might do though, is secure the yarn every time you get to a corner of a block, which would eliminate the problem of the whole thing crimping up, in case they pull on the yarn.

Everyone beat me to it but here goes anyway: Crochet !

I recently made a crochet scarf made out of individually crocheted flowers. I cannot even begin to tell you how much crocheting pieces together is so much less frustrating than seaming. It's bliss, I tell you. Bliss.

Someone's probably suggested it already, but you may want to look at the knitter's handy book of Finishing Techniques. That's how I've done all my seaming (though, admittedly, never garter stitch) - it seems like a thourough book and the instructions are sooooo clear, they're my godsend.

Check out the most excellent free online knitting book - Studio Knits. http://www.studioknits.com/booktoc.htm

I am not sure if she is addressing your problem, though, so I hope I don't waste your time! :)

Dangit, I posted the wrong link!

http://www.studioknits.com/bookpage74.htm

i have to confess that i'm not very good at garter stitch seaming either. it's just one of those things in knitting that totally sucks! i hope you find a nice solution, but if you don't, i'm sure the baby won't notice!

When I seamed that blanket I used the directions in the Knitter's Handy Book of Finishing Techniques (or whatever the exact title is) and it worked. It took me a little time to get it figured out, but in the end it looks right. Good luck.

I don't know if you've solved this yet - but check Montsey Stanley. There's a thing with the back and forth that makes an invisible seam. I can't describe it, but it is easy to follow her illustrations. I did it for the garter stitch pullover I made my nephew and it was flexible and undetectible.

Check it out.

hi
I don't know whether you've got your garter stitch seaming issues sorted yet or not, but have you seen...

http://www.januaryone.com/archives/2006/10/no_socks_for_you.php

It may be of interest

I had a desire to make my commerce, but I didn't have got enough of cash to do this. Thank heaven my dude proposed to use the loan. Hence I took the car loan and made real my dream.