Right Side / Wrong Side
Right side and wrong side describe the two faces of knitted fabric: the right side is meant to show on the outside of the garment, the wrong side faces inward.
Explanation
The right side (RS) is the side of the fabric intended to show on the outside of the finished garment, while the wrong side (WS) faces inward or toward the body. In stockinette, the right side is the smooth side with clear V-shaped stitches, while the wrong side has a more 'bumpy' appearance. Patterns often specify which side you are working, especially in flat knitting, and it's wise to mark the right side with a safety pin or similar early in a project so you don't lose track after a break.
Also known as: RS, WS
Keeping track of the sides
The right side is the face that shows on the finished garment; the wrong side faces in. In stockinette the difference is obvious: the smooth side of Vs is the right side. In garter and seed stitch the two faces look nearly identical, and then you have to mark it.
A stitch marker or a knotted scrap of yarn fixed to the right side early on saves a lot of grief — especially when a project sits untouched for a week.
Why it matters
Patterns frequently specify that increases, decreases or pattern rows happen on the right side. Worked on the wrong side, the shaping ends up mirrored or on the wrong face of the garment.
Seaming depends on it too. A sweater with one sleeve set in backwards is a classic error that only surfaces at try-on.
Common mistakes
- Working shaping rows on the wrong side because the right side was never marked.
- Seaming sleeves or side seams mirrored.
Keywords
- right side
- wrong side
- RS
- WS
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell the right side in garter stitch?
You cannot — the faces are identical. That is exactly why it has to be marked from the start, or defined by where the cast-on tail sits.
What do "RS" and "WS" mean in a pattern?
RS is right side, WS is wrong side. An instruction marked RS is worked on a row where the right side faces you.