Learn how to knit stockinette stitch, the classic knit stitch, with this fantastic step by step stockinette stitch knitting pattern tutorial for beginners
Stockinette stitch has long been a favorite of mine. Stockinette is the “classic” knitting stitch that you see most often with little columns of neat v-shapes on the right side and waves of purl stitches on the wrong side. You see it used in sweaters and classic knits all the time. It is kind of the neutral blue jeans of the knitting world, it goes with everything, looks nice on its own and makes a nice background for other more complicated stitches including lace, cables and other stitch patterns.
What is stockinette stitch?
Stockinette stitch is one of the most basic knitting stitches where the right side of the knit fabric shows all knit stitches and the wrong side shows all purl stitches. When knit flat it is created by alternating rows of knit and purl stitches.
What does stockinette stitch look like?
Here is the front (right side) of stockinette stitch
Here is the back (wrong side) of stockinette stitch
How To Stop Stockinette Stitch From Curling?
People ask this question all the time, you are not alone. Unfortunately, stockinette stitch knit fabric always curls. It curls from the cast on and bind off edges and from the sides. This has to do with the structure of knit vs. purl stitches and while you can block it, it’s nearly impossible to make it stay completely flat and it will eventually curl.
It’s best to just accept this about stockinette and embrace it rather than trying to force it to be something it’s not. You can even use the curling as a design element like we did with my rolled brim baby hat. The nature of this stitch makes stockinette stitch a good choice for things like socks, hats and sweaters that are round and not a good choice for something like a scarf which will curl no matter what you do.
If you want to use stockinette in a flat design such as a scarf or baby blanket, you can minimize curling by adding a border of non-curling stitches (at least 5-6 stitches wide) such as garter stitch, seed stitch, or ribbing.
The final, most drastic option to stop stockinette stitch from curling only works if you are using acrylic yarn. Then you can heavily steam block the project. This is called “killing” the yarn and it essentially melts the fibers together to permanently make them keep their shape. BUT this does change the feel and texture of the yarn and, as mentioned, it is permanent so proceed with caution.
Tips & Tricks for Knitting Stockinette Stitch
- Stockinette stitch makes a nice stretchy fabric.
- Pay attention to whether you are knitting stockinette stitch flat or in the round. Stockinette stitch and garter stitch are opposite knit flat or knit in the round. This means that stockinette stitch is alternating rows of knits and purls when knit flat, but when knit in the round, stockinette stitch is only knit stitches!
- Be careful to keep your tension the same when knitting and purling to get the most even stitches in all rows.
- Even though blocking won’t prevent curling, blocking stockinette stitch can help even out stitches.
Stockinette Stich Knitting Pattern (knit flat)
Cast on any number of stitches.
Row 1 (RS): knit all stitches
Row 2 (WS): purl all stitches
Repeat rows 1 & 2
Here is a knitting chart for stockinette stitch knit flat:
Stockinette Stitch Knitting Pattern (in the round)
Cast on any number of stitches and join to knit in the round.
All rounds (RS): knit all stitches
Here is a knitting chart for stockinette stitch knit in the round:
Stockinette Stitch Video Tutorial
Watch me knit stockinette stitch flat in this simple video knitting tutorial:
Stockinette Stitch Troubleshooting
- Learn to knit a basic knit stitch with my easy tutorial.
- Learn to knit a basic purl stitch with my easy tutorial.
- Find out how to fix a dropped knit stitch.
- Find out how to fix a dropped purl stitch.
How To Knit Stockinette Stitch
Learn how to knit stockinette stitch, the classic knit stitch, with this fantastic step by step stockinette stitch knitting pattern tutorial for beginners
Materials
Tools
Instructions
Stockinette Stich Knitting Pattern (knit flat)
- Cast on any number of stitches.
- Row 1 (RS): knit all stitches
- Row 2 (WS): purl all stitches
- Repeat rows 1 & 2
Stockinette Stitch Knitting Pattern (in the round)
- Cast on any number of stitches and join to knit in the round.
- All rounds (RS): knit all stitches
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