Steeking
Steeking is the technique of cutting into knitted fabric to create openings for sleeves or cardigan fronts, requiring careful securing of stitches first.
Explanation
Steeking is a traditional technique, often used in colorwork (like Norwegian cardigans/kofte), where you knit a complete tube and then cut it open to create openings for sleeves or the front opening of a cardigan. Before cutting, you must secure the stitches on each side of the steek, either by sewing with a sewing machine, crocheting an edge, or using self-felting wool. This allows you to knit the pattern in the round the entire way, which is much easier than knitting colorwork back and forth.