Garter Stitch Help

Hi, I’m having a problem with my garter stitch. I started by ribbing with an odd number of stitches and then decreased and was left with an even number of stitches. However, once I started the garter stitch, there became alternating horizontal rows on both the right and wrong side of the fabric. Can someone help, please?

Welcome to the forum!
Garter stitch is made by knitting every row, front and back sides. It should form ridges on the front and back of the knit fabric.
Here’s a comparison of garter stitch and stockinette.


What is the name of your pattern?
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Maybe it’s the type of yarn and your tension that’s making it look not as you expect? With tighter tension the ridges would be snug, but this yarn looks relatively thin for these needles. The non smooth texture could be having an effect as well.
I’m not saying it’s a concrete rule, what thickness of yarn you use with which size needles, it all depends on the effect you’re going for! It’s just in cases where you’re using thinner yarn with large needles, garter stitch will look more like this than ridges that fit snugly against each other. This isn’t meant as criticism, either. I like the slightly rustic looking fabric you have there.

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Hi, thanks for your response, the video was super helpful! I didn’t realize what the garter stitch was supposed to look like. I got my pattern from Etsy it’s Patons 7858.
image

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Hi, thanks for your response! It makes so much sense that it looks different, I didn’t realize that the needle size and the yarn weight would make it look like that. I started with 3.25mm needles and switched to 6.5mm needles for the garter and it didn’t look like other garter stitches I’ve seen so I was a little confused, but this really cleared it up for me!

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Hi
I like the effect you’re getting with the yarn you’ve chosen and the needle size. I was wondering though if the pattern had called for the larger needle with this yarn or if you’d changed the needle size based on a swatch?
I’m only asking out of interest.
What sort of yarn is it please?

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You’re welcome! I love the look of your pattern, so good luck finishing it :slight_smile:

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Hi thanks for your interest! The pattern called for the switch in needle size and the yarn is Berroco Quinoa. I used this yarn because the one they suggested, Patons Cotton Top, is discontinued, and this was the closest substitute. Here’s some more information:


Also I realized that the color of the yarn in my other picture was a little off, it is more brown
Hope this helps!

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Funny, with a name like quinoa one might expect it to be all natural but it has nylon.

Oh I like the ‘new’ colour too.
I think the garter is looking good. Hope you will post a photo of the finished top.
I like the shape of this around the neck and shoulders. I’ve just ordered my next 2 projects which have a similar sort of shape.

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Hi!
Haha I didn’t even think about that, but I could see how it’s a little misleading. I will definitely post a photo once it’s done, though it may take a bit. I will also keep my eyes open if you post photos of the projects you are going to be working on. Overall, thank you all for your help and support! :smile:

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