Reading a knitting pattern gets a lot easier once you recognize the main stitches. Nearly every pattern is built from just two moves, the knit stitch and the purl stitch, combined in different ways to make a sweater, a hat or a scarf. Below are the knitting stitches you'll meet first as a beginner, how each one is made and what it's good for.
Checklist before you start practicing
- Do your yarn and needles match? The yarn label lists the recommended needle size.
- Cast on 20 to 25 stitches for practice before you start a real project.
- Practice each stitch on its own swatch, so you don't have to rip out half a project later.
- Know the right side (RS) and wrong side (WS) of your work. For some stitches that matters for keeping the pattern correct.
The basic knitting stitches at a glance
| Stitch | How you work it (knitting flat) | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Knit stitch (k) | Insert the right needle from front to back, yarn at the back | The base of almost all knitting |
| Purl stitch (p) | Insert the right needle from back to front, yarn at the front | Smooth stockinette, combined with knit |
| Garter stitch | Knit every row | Scarves, dishcloths, edges that lie flat |
| Stockinette stitch (UK: stocking stitch) | Knit the RS rows, purl the WS rows | Sweaters, cardigans, hats |
| Ribbing (k1, p1 or k2, p2) | Alternate knit and purl stitches within the same row | Cuffs and brims of hats, sweaters and socks |
Knit stitch: where almost all knitting starts
The knit stitch is usually the first stitch you learn and the one you'll use most. With the yarn at the back, insert the right needle from front to back into the first stitch on the left needle, wrap the yarn around the right needle, pull a new loop through and let the old stitch slide off. Knit every row while knitting flat and you get garter stitch, the bumpy fabric described below.
Purl stitch: the other side of the knit stitch
The purl stitch is the mirror image of the knit stitch. Bring the yarn to the front, insert the right needle from back to front into the stitch, wrap the yarn and pull the new loop through to the back. A knit stitch looks like a smooth V on the side facing you, a purl stitch like a small horizontal bump. They're the same stitch seen from opposite sides, which is why the two combine so well.
Garter stitch: flat fabric that won't curl
Knit every row, on both sides of the work, and you have garter stitch. The result is a squishy fabric with clear horizontal ridges that looks the same on both sides. Because garter stitch doesn't curl at the edges, it's great for a first scarf, a dishcloth, or a border on a project that would otherwise roll up. It's also the easiest stitch to start with, since you only need to know one move.
Stockinette stitch: the smooth fabric of most sweaters
Knit one row on the right side, purl one row on the wrong side, and repeat. That gives you stockinette stitch: smooth little Vs on the front and bumps on the back. It's the fabric you see on most sweaters and cardigans. If you knit in the round, you get stockinette by knitting every round, because you never turn the work. Stockinette does curl at the edges, which is normal. A border of garter stitch or ribbing keeps it flat.
Ribbing: knit and purl in the same row
For ribbing you alternate knit and purl stitches within one row, for example k1, p1 or k2, p2. On the next row you knit the stitches that look like knits and purl the ones that look like purls, so the columns line up. The result is a stretchy fabric with vertical ribs that you'll know from the cuff of a hat, a sweater or a sock. When you switch from knit to purl, bring the yarn between the needles to the front, and take it back between the needles before the next knit stitch. Forgetting that step is the most common beginner mistake in ribbing, and it adds an extra stitch.
Next up: brioche and fisherman's rib
Once knit, purl, garter, stockinette and ribbing feel comfortable, the next step for many knitters is brioche stitch or its easier cousin, fisherman's rib. Both make a thick, squishy, extra stretchy fabric. Fisherman's rib works by knitting into the stitch below; brioche slips a stitch together with a yarn over and knits the pair together on the next row. Both take a little more technique, so practice the stitches above first.
Frequently asked questions about knitting stitches
What's the difference between a knit stitch and a purl stitch?
For a knit stitch you insert the needle from front to back with the yarn behind the work; for a purl stitch you insert it from back to front with the yarn in front. Knit on the right side and purl on the wrong side and you get stockinette stitch.
What's the easiest knitting stitch for beginners?
Garter stitch. You knit every row, so you don't need to switch between knit and purl, and the fabric doesn't curl.
What is the difference between garter stitch and stockinette stitch?
Garter stitch is knit on every row and has ridges on both sides. Stockinette alternates a knit row and a purl row, giving a smooth front and a bumpy back. Garter lies flat; stockinette curls at the edges.
What does k2, p2 mean in a pattern?
Knit 2 stitches, purl 2 stitches, and repeat across the row. It's the most common type of ribbing. Other abbreviations you'll see often are RS (right side), WS (wrong side), CO (cast on) and BO (bind off, in UK patterns "cast off").
Is fisherman's rib or brioche hard to learn?
They take a bit more technique than the basic stitches, because you work into the row below or into a slipped stitch with a yarn over. Once knit and purl are second nature, it's a small step.
From practice swatches to a first project
Once knit and purl stitches go smoothly and you've tried garter, stockinette and ribbing, you're ready for most beginner patterns. Our complete guide on how to knit for beginners covers casting on and binding off too. Still deciding between needles and a hook? Read knitting vs crochet, or see how the basic crochet stitches compare.
