Stockinette stitch is the classic basic stitch in knitting. On the right side, appears as a fabric composed solely of knit stitches: a series of small Vs that interlock perfectly. Stockinette stitch is certainly the most common knitting stitch, as it creates a smooth and fluid fabric, sober and timeless. To create stockinette stitch, the knitter must knit in a way that all the stitches on the right side of the work are knit stitches. When knitting flat, it means that the stitches will be purled on the wrong side.
How to knit stockinette stitch?
To knit in stockinette stitch, the stitches on right-side rows are knitted, and the stitches on wrong-side rows are purled. If the work is knitted in the round, all stitches should be knitted.
Tutorial: stockinette stitch worked flat
Right-side row: knit all stitches.
Wrong-side row: purl all stitches.
These two rows make up the stockinette stitch. They can be repeated as many times as desired.
To knit stockinette stitch in the round, only repeat the first row, as all rounds will be worked on the front of the work.
How to prevent stockinette stitch from rolling?
The edges of a stockinette stitch work tend to roll inward. It is important to add a border to items entirely knitted in stockinette stitch to prevent rolling. The easiest border to make is in garter stitch. To make it, knit the right-side rows as described above, and purl the wrong-side rows as follows:
Wrong-side row with border: knit the first 3 stitches, purl all stitches to the last 3 stitches, knit the last 3 stitches.
How to knit reverse stockinette stitch?
To create reverse stockinette stitch, when working flat, the stitches on right-side rows should be purled, and the stitches on wrong-side rows should be knitted. It working reverse stockinette stitch in the round, all stitches should be purled so the purl stitches will appear on the right side of the work.
