Knit Stitches
Knit stitches are the most basic stitch in knitting, formed by knitting through the front loop. Combined with purl stitches, they form nearly all patterns.
Explanation
The knit stitch is, along with the purl stitch, one of the two fundamental stitches in knitting. You insert the needle into the front loop from left to right, wrap the yarn around the needle, and pull it through. Knitting every stitch every round on circular needles produces stockinette. Knitting every stitch back and forth on straight needles produces garter stitch. The knit stitch is often the very first thing beginners learn, and forms the basis for most other stitch variations and patterns.
Also known as: Knit, k
How to work a knit stitch
Hold the work with the yarn behind the needle. Insert the right needle into the front of the stitch from front to back, wrap the yarn counterclockwise around the right needle, and draw the loop back through. Slide the old stitch off the left needle.
The motion is the same whether you knit English with the yarn in your right hand or Continental with it in your left. Only the yarn delivery differs, and Continental is generally considered faster because the hand travels a shorter distance.
What knit stitches make
Knitting every round in the round produces stockinette — the smooth face with rows of Vs. Knitting every row flat produces garter stitch, which is thicker, lies flat and does not curl at the edges.
It is the same stitch in both cases. The only difference is whether you see it from the front or the back on alternate rows.
Common mistakes
- Working into the back loop unintentionally, which twists the stitch.
- Letting the yarn sit in front of the needle instead of behind, creating an accidental yarn over.
- Tugging hard after every stitch, which makes gauge uneven.
Keywords
- knit stitch
- knitting
- basic stitch
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between knit and purl stitches?
They are the same stitch seen from opposite sides. A knit on the right side is a purl on the wrong side. What changes is which way you insert the needle and whether the yarn is held front or back.
Why do the edges of my knitting roll inward?
Because the front and back of the fabric have different tension. It is normal and mostly relaxes with blocking, or you can add a garter or ribbed border that lies flat.