Kitchener Stitch Tutorial

Kitchner stitch is a technique for invisibly weaving together live stitches. The photo above shows Kitchner stitch worked in contrasting yarn so that you can see what it does. Knitters tend to shy away from learning this stitch because it seems complicated when all written out, but it's actually very simple to do; the only real challenge is keeping track of where you are in the steps.

Step 1: Thread a tapestry needle with the same yarn you used to work your project. Hold the needles with the live stitches parallel in your left hand. Insert the tapestry needle through the first stitch on the front needle as if to PURL. Pull the yarn through, leaving a tail that you will weave in later. Leave the stitch on the front needle.

Step 2: Insert the tapestry needle through the first stitch on the back needle as if to KNIT, pull the yarn through, leaving the stitch on the back needle.

Step 3: Insert the tapestry needle through the first stitch on the front needle as if to KNIT, pull the yarn through, removing the stitch from the front needle.

Step 4: Insert the tapestry needle through the first stitch on the front needle as if to PURL, pull the yarn through, leaving the stitch on the front needle.

Step 5: Insert the tapestry needle through the first stitch on the back needle as if to PURL, pull the yarn through, removing the stitch on the back needle.

Step 6: Insert the tapestry needle through the first stitch on the back needle as if to KNIT, pull the yarn through, leaving the stitch on the back needle.

Repeat Step 3 - Step 6 until all stitches have been worked. Every few stitches, adjust the tension of your work, making sure not to pull too tightly. Remember, you are making an extra row of knitting rather than sewing together a seam.

Comments

[judy]

Hey, thanks for the tutorial!

I just want to add two little pieces of information:
1. This will add a row of stitches to your finished object (this is something not always immediately apparent to beginners).
2. This method will give you an invisible stockinette stitch _not_ garter stitch.

:)

[Noemi]

Thanks soooo much for this tutorial! I've seen it done before but I never tried it myself it was nice that I knew exactly where to go to find out how to do it! HERE! thanks!!

[Stacey]

Thank you so much. I used the attached i-cord tutorial and the kitchener stitch as well. Both were EXTREMELY helpful. Your directions and photos are very clear. Thanks again!!!

[Charlene]

Thanks for the pattern! I am enjoying making it. I am having one problem though. Everytime I try to graft the icord together, it doesn't look right. I've taken it apart so many times already and I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. The front needle is the needle without the working yarn correct? Or am I doing this wrong? Any advice?

[purlbee]

Hi Charlene,

It sounds like you have the needles properly arranged. I suspect the trouble is in identifying the first and last stitches of the I-cord. They can be somewhat obscure because of the way an I-cord folds around, making for a tricky initiation into the world of kitchener stitch.

I might advise you to practice the kitchener with two pieces of normal flat knitting. Just knit up two quick stockinette swatches, don't bind them off and try grafting them together. The confidence and experience you get from that practice may be all you need to tackle the I-cord!

Good luck!
Whitney

[Elida Dillon]

Your step by step instructions for the kitchener stitch was extremely helpful to me while I was recently finishing a pair of socks.

[Abby]

This was really helpful! Thanks for all the great photos to go with it - it was like having a helpful friend there to guide me along. I used the kitchener stitch to finish off the Lovely Leaf Lace scarf which i made for my aunt and which turned out great - thanks for linking those instructions to this tutorial, too.

I do have a question - I threaded on yarn that was about 5X the width of the scarf and still ran out before I reached the other side. Is there a handy ratio/way to tell how much yarn you will need for wider projects?

[Paul]

Thank you for the clearly illustrated and worded explanation of the Kitchener Stitch. We need a little memnonic to help remember the steps - if I can come up with a jaunty jingle I will be sure to share with you - until then, this is so well done - I am a new knitter and using this to finish my Turkiish Bed Socks. Thanks for the great photos and description of the technique. Paul :-}>

[Brennie]

Hooray! A depicted kitchener tutorial! Thanks so much for posting this, I've already used it many times :)
I do have a question though; what if your project is ribbed? I'm working on a sweater and I'm supposed to work the kitchener stitch over a 1x1 ribbed neckline. Any tips? Better yet; any pictures?
Thanks again!

[Kay]

Thank you for this VERY clear tutorial. It was better than all the videos available for me. My first Christmas stocking is now done. Only 8 more to go :-0

[Kathy]

The tutorial instructions seem very clear, and I've double checked with a few videos. However, I'm having a bit of trouble; to me, there's a fairly obvious seam once I've finished grafting. I used this stitch to graph the two sides a stockinette practice piece and the right side isn't bad, but along the wrong side there's a raised seam.
Given that the stitch is described as being invisible, I'm guessing this is incorrect. Any suggestions?

[Sarah]

Just a quick question - are you grafting with what was your working yarn?

Thanks for the great pictures and instructions.

[purl bee]

Hi Sarah-

You are indeed grafting with the working yarn. Thanks for your question!

[Bronwen]

Thank you very much for this tutorial, the result is very attractive!

[Sheila]

I knit constantly but use this stitch only every now and then and can never quite remember how to do it. Your photos are the best and so easy to follow, thanks so much!

[prairiedale]

Thank you for making your tutorials printable. I used this tutorial to finish up my first lace project tonight!