Q&A for How to Knit Stockinette Stitch

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What are common knitting mistakes?

Jen Webber
Knitting Specialist
Jen Webber is a Knitting Specialist and the Manager of The Quarter Stitch, a crafting store based in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana. With over 17 years of knitting and crafting experience, Jen helps educate customers and the public on best knitting practices for their DIY projects.

Jen Webber

Knitting Specialist

Expert Answer

The most common mistake I usually see is a lack of blocking. Blocking a project involves either soaking or steaming the line to even out the fibers. This can help your project by avoiding different tightness in your stitches caused by external factors such as stress or hurry when knitting.

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Question

If a pattern says 12 rows of stocking stitches, is that 24 rows in total?

LibraryMouse

Community Answer

No, it simply means 12 rows, 6 of knit and 6 of purl.

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Question

Whenever I attempt to knit stockinette, one row will be smooth and the next bumpy. Any tips on fixing it?

Community Answer

That's how its supposed to be. The stockinette stitch has one bumpy side, while the other is smooth.

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Question

My gauge says 9 sts to 4" - does this mean 9 sts and 9 rows?

Eye of the liger

Community Answer

Yes it does! 9 stitches by 9 rows = 4x4 inch square. Good luck!

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Question

My edges are curling. How do I get it to stop?

Community Answer

Edges will always curl in stockinette. Typically people add two stitches of garter stitch to each side in order to encourage it to stay flat, because garter stitch does not curl. You can use any other side border stitch you like so long as it is naturally flat.

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Question

On the purl row of a stockinet stitch, do I knit the first and last stitch of the row?

Community Answer

No. You purl the entire row. Altering the front and last stitches can be a part of a patterned stitch, but stockinette is just a knit row, purl row design.

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Question

I'm knitting a sock on multiple needles. However, after I knit a row, then follow with purling a row, I end up with a raised line. What am I doing wrong?

Community Answer

When you use circular needles or knit a circle with double pointed needles, stockinette stitch is knit every row because you are working from the same side, as opposed to knitting on regular needles, in which case you switch sides every row. So instead of alternating between knit and purl rows, knit every row.

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Question

The pattern says, "Knit four rows of stockinette stitch." Does this mean eight rows in total?

LibraryMouse

Community Answer

No, it means four rows total -- two knit and two purl.

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Question

The pattern says to do a stockinette stitch until last 4 stitches then knit. Does this mean knit one, purl one?

Community Answer

No. When you get to the last 4 stitches, you are suppose to knit them. If you are on the purl side and it says knit the last 4 stitches, that means purl till you get to the last 4 stitches. Then knit those last 4 stitches.

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Question

The pattern says 4 inches of stocking stitch should equal 15 sts (horizontal)? What does horizontal mean exactly?

Jenny Marie

Community Answer

From left to right or visa-versa. They want you to count across the row. Work 15 stockinette stitches. Now measure across the top of the stitches. If your gauge is correct you should have a measure of 4 inches. [This is opposed to 4 rows = 15 inches, or 15 rows = 4 inches.]

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Question

Is stockinette stitch knit one, purl one across, or knit one row and purl one row?

Community Answer

Knit one row, turn, purl one row if working flat, and knit all rows if in the round. Knit one, purl one across will result in ribbing.

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Question

Can you purl then knit or do you have to knit then purl?

T. Chinsen

Top Answerer

You can do either start method. The end result will be a stockinette stitch for both methods" side. The only difference is which side you want to be the "right" or front side.

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Question

Once I've knitted 4 rows, how do I now stockinette stitch on the correct side of my work?

T. Chinsen

Top Answerer

If you have followed the article's instructions, you have made the stockinette stitch. Step 5 shows the front of the stockinette swatch. The stitches form a vertical "V" pattern as shown in the picture.

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Question

What is a garter stitch?

T. Chinsen

Top Answerer

Garter stitch is the knitting of every row. This creates a ripple appearance on both sides of work. You will have more rows per inch for a garter pattern as the stitch height is about half of that of stockinette stitch.

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Question

How many rows are needed when knitting stockinette stitches?

T. Chinsen

Top Answerer

The basic pattern of stockinette stitch is knit one row and purl the next. You simply repeat these two rows until you reach the desired length. There is no required number of rows for this stitch pattern.

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Should the back side and the front side be the same rows?

T. Chinsen

Top Answerer

The knit row side is smooth and is usually considered the front. The purl side will be bumpy and is considered the back. If you knit every row or purl every row you will get a garter stitch pattern, which forms a ripple on both sides of the work.

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