How to Knit the Stockinette Stitch

You’ve mastered the garter stitch. Here’s the next step.

In this episode of B.hooked Knitting, I’ll be teaching you how to knit the the stockinette stitch or the “stocking stitch” as it’s sometimes called. This stitch is the perfect next step for beginner knitters who’ve mastered the garter stitch.

The stockinette stitch is the “classic” knit stitch and is used more often than many other stitches. Many knitted projects you’ve seen (handmade or machine made) are likely to feature the stockinette stitch at least once.

I’d say the stockinette stitch is the next step in your knitting journey after mastering the garter stitch. If you’re finding this post before the garter stitch, I recommend you start with that tutorial first. Mastering the garter stitch will help you find your tension and groove with knitting and (in my humble opinion) is where you should start as a complete beginner. Knitting is immensely fun but it can be very frustrating if you try to do too much, too early. Ask me how I know that. Here’s my tutorial on the garter stitch:

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How to Knit the Garter Stitch: Complete Beginners, Start Here

Now with that out of the way, the stockinette stitch will allow you to practice your purling skills. This beautiful stitch is the result of knitting a row and purling the next. It creates a nice dense fabric with a lot of stretch. Depending on the yarn and needle sized used, you can do so many things with the stockinette stitch.

Practice Makes Perfect

The stockinette stitch is perfect for reviewing the knit stitch and practicing the purl stitch. In this tutorial, we’re going to work up a test swatch. You will only need 15-20 yards of yarn to get the hang of it. Any yarn in your stash will do and a pair of coordinating knitting needles.

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Clover Takumi US11 knitting needles
Bernat Roving

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This video is also available in a left handed version. Click below to be directed to the left handed tutorial on my YouTube channel.

How to Knit the Stockinette Stitch Left Handed

Resources Mentioned in Tutorial:

Abbreviations

K – Knit
kwise – Knitwise
P – Purl
pwise – Purlwise

Written Instructions

Cast on any number of stitches

Row 1: k every stitch.

Row 2: p every stitch.

Repeat row one until your project reaches desired length. **Note: the fabric created with the stockinette stitch will curl on the edges. To avoid this, it’s a good idea to make a garter stitch border as seen in the video.

How to Knit the Stockinette Stitch