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Knit > Kitchener
Stitch
Kitchener stitch is a method of grafting two sets of live stitches together.
With this technique, you are able to seam unbound stitches together invisibly:
the seam you create with your sewing needle actually creates a row of stitches.
Make sure that the two pieces you are grafting together each have the same
number of stitches.
Although this technique is not rocket science, it does involve your
concentration. Until you are proficient, ensure that there are no
distractions while you are seaming together two pieces using Kitchener Stitch,
because it is easy to lose your place and forget where you are in the process.
This tutorial shows grafting together two pieces of stockinette work,
however, the same instructions will apply to grafting garter stitch.
Because this technique will simulate a row of knit stitches, it may not be the
right choice for grafting patterned stitches unless your intent is to break the
pattern.
You will be using a tapestry needle to do Kitchener Stitch. The
tapestry needle will be passed through the stitches in a manner similar to
the direction in which a knitting needle is inserted within a stitch:
purlwise or knitwise.
I find it useful to think of Kitchener Stitch as comprising of 3 distinct
phases: First 2 Stitches, Repeating Stitch Pattern, Last 2 Stitches.
First 2 Stitches
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Holding each set of stitches on 2 separate needles, hold
the wrong sides of the work together so that the knit sides of the two works
are facing out. It is useful if you use a long tail from one of your
pieces to do the grafting. Make sure the yarn you use for grafting is
at least three times the length of the width of the work you are grafting
together. Thread your tapestry needle. |
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Forward Needle: Pass your needle through the
first stitch of the forward needle as if to purl and pull the needle and
yarn through. |
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Back Needle: Keeping the working yarn and
needle UNDER the needles, pass the needle through the first stitch of the
back needle as if to knit. |
Repeating Stitch Pattern
Keep the following rules and principles in mind as you continue with
Kitchener Stitch:
- Don't bring the needle or your grafting yarn OVER the needles: Keep
it UNDER the needles.
- Make sure to drop stitches before moving between needles.
- As you drop stitches off the needles, check the tension of your grafting
row and adjust it as you go.
- A stitch gets dropped off the needle once you have passed the tapestry
needle through it twice.
- I developed a silly mantra that works to help me keep my place. It
may work for you. I repeat it as I work the repeating part of Kitchener
Stitch: " The front is always KNIT, PURL - The back is always PURL, KNIT
"
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#1 - Forward Needle
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A: Pass your
needle through the first stitch of the forward needle as if to
knit and pull the needle and yarn through. This will be your 2nd
pass with your tapestry needle through this stitch.
-
B: Pass your
needle through the second stitch of the forward needle as if to
purl and pull the needle and yarn through.
-
Drop the first stitch off the
front needle.
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#2 - Back Needle
-
A: Pass your
needle through the first stitch of the back needle as if to purl
and pull the needle and yarn through. Keep the grafting yarn
underneath the knitting needles. This will be your 2nd pass with
your tapestry needle through this stitch.
-
B: Pass your
needle through the second stitch of the back needle as if to
knit and pull the needle and yarn through.
-
Drop the first stitch off the
back needle. Adjust the tension of the grafted stitches so that it
is the same as the stitches on the 2 items you are grafting together.
|
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You will repeat #1 and #2 until there is only one stitch
remaining on each of your needles. |
Last 2 Stitches
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Forward Needle: Pass your needle through the
first stitch of the forward needle as if to knit and pull the needle
and yarn through. |
 |
Back Needle: Keeping the working yarn and
needle UNDER the needles, pass the needle through the first stitch of the
back needle as if to purl. |
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Drop all stitches off your needles and make any necessary
tension adjustments by tugging at the work. The grafting effort
is now complete. Sit back and admire your work! |