Double Stitch
A double stitch is a technique used in German Short Rows, where the yarn is pulled tightly around the stitch so it 'doubles up', marking a turn without holes.
Explanation
A double stitch is created by turning the work and pulling the yarn tightly to the front or back around the first stitch on the needle, so the stitch visually looks like two stitches on the needle (hence the name). When you later knit this double stitch, both 'layers' are knitted together as one stitch. The technique is the core of German Short Rows, making it possible to shape shoulders, heels, and other three-dimensional shaping without the visible holes that the traditional wrap-and-turn method can sometimes leave.
Also known as: DS
What it is
A double stitch is the result of a German short row turn: the stitch from the row below is pulled up over the needle so both legs sit there, looking like two stitches.
It must always be treated as one stitch. Counted as two, you end up with the wrong stitch count and a hole where the turn was.
How to work the double stitch
When you reach the double stitch on a later row, insert the needle through both legs at once and work them together. That closes the turn without a trace.
In patterned knitting, remember the double stitch represents one stitch in the repeat, not two.
Common mistakes
- Counting the double stitch as two stitches.
- Working only one leg, which leaves an extra stitch and a hole.
Keywords
- double stitch
- German short rows
- short row technique
Frequently asked questions
How do I recognize a double stitch?
It has two legs over the needle instead of one, and always sits where you turned the work.
Does a double stitch count as one stitch or two?
Always one. Both legs are worked together when you reach it.