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What is the Kitchener stitch?
Learn how to graft ( join) two sets of live stitches using the Kitchener stitch.
The Kitchener stitch is a very popular method of joining two sets of live stitches together. “Live stitches” are those, that have not been bound off and are still on the needle.
The Kitchener stitch creates a row of knit stitches, that seamlessly blends with the stockinette fabric. As a result, the pattern is not interrupted and the seam is invisible. It is flat and not bulky on the wrong side.
The technique may seem complex at first, but once you try it out you’ll master it pretty quickly. And you don’t need to remember the steps by heart – if you need a little reminder, you can always come back to this post.
When to use the Kitchener stitch?
You can use the Kitchener stitch whenever you need to join two sets of live stitches together.
This method is commonly used to close the toes of top-down socks or the tips of mittens, to join the shoulders of a garment.
The Kitchener stitch works best on stockinette or between knit rows. If there is a row of stockinette below and above the seam, the seam itself will simply blend with the other stitches.
Below you will find the step-by-step photo tutorial on how to do the Kitchener stitch.
The Kitchener stitch is used in the following patterns:
- Orchid socks knitting pattern
- Lavender Lane socks knitting pattern
- Sunset Safari socks knitting pattern
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ABBREVIATIONS
Knitwise (=as if to knit) – insert the tapestry needle into the stitch from left to right, as if you were going to knit it.
Purlwise (=as if to purl) – insert the tapestry needle into the stitch from right to left, as if you were going to purl it.
SUPPLIES
Two sets of live stitches
Tapestry needle
TUTORIAL: HOW TO DO THE KITCHENER STITCH
To begin, thread yarn on a tapestry needle. You can use a new strand of yarn or the tail from your working yarn to avoid unnecessary knots.
For demonstration purposes, I used yarn in a contrasting color, so you can clearly see the steps and the resulting seam. You will want to use the same yarn you used for the project.
The length of the yarn should be approximately three times the length of the row width, plus 6” for weaving in ends later.
Hold the two needles with the live stitches in your left hand. The needles should be parallel to one another, tips pointing to the right. The wrong sides should be facing each other.
If you are working with the yarn tail, it should be at the right end of the back needle.
Setup.
Step 1 (front needle): Go through the first stitch purlwise, leave the stitch on the needle.
Step 2 (back needle): Go through the first stitch knitwise, leave the stitch on the needle.
Repeated sequence.
Step 3 (front needle): Go through the first stitch again, this time knitwise, slip the stitch off the needle.
Go through the next stitch purlwise, leave the stitch on the needle.
Step 4 (back needle): Go through the first stitch again, this time purlwise, slip the stitch off the needle.
Go through the next stitch knitwise, leave the stitch on the needle.
Repeat steps 3 and 4 until there is one stitch left on each needle.
Finishing.
Last step (front needle): Go through the first stitch knitwise, slip the stitch off the needle.
Last step (back needle): Go through the first stitch purlwise, slip the stitch off the needle.
That’s it, the Kitchener stitch is done!
TIPS
The Kitchener stitch takes concentration and practice. To keep track of where you are in the steps, say each step out loud as you do it and you’ll be in the rhythm.
Be careful not to put the yarn OVER the needles. The yarn should always go UNDER the needles, otherwise, you’ll create unnecessary loops.
Keep an eye on your tension. For a truly invisible join, you want the grafted row to be the same size as the other knitted rows. You can stop every few stitches and check the tension. If the stitches look too tight or too loose simply adjust them using the tip of your tapestry needle – carefully tighten up or loosen up the stitches one by one.
I hope you found this tutorial useful. Be sure to check out my other knitting tutorials!
