How to tell the RS from WS

How-to Questions
1

Dumb question from a newbie here…

i’m working on a diamond pattern place mats right now. after you do the 5 rows of seed stitch - the first row says :
Row 1 (right side) *K1, P13, K1, repeat from * across row.

ok, i get that part, but which side is the “right side”? the side facing me with the 13 purl nubs? or the side on the back of the needle?

the reason i’m asking is because i’m getting ready to start a color blocked afghan and it mentions changing colors on the ws… HELP! how do i know?

thanks!!!

2

The right side is the ‘public side’ or the outside of a sweater or the side on which the pattern shows.

Usually, for stockinette, it’s the flat, v-side. Sometimes the purl side is the right side for reverse stockinette.

The diamond pattern can go either way. The sides won’t look the same, but the diamond will show up on one side as purl bumps and the other will be knit stitches. Usually, the first row is the right side, and the pattern will often indicate that.

3

The pattern is telling you that row 1 will be the RS. With the 5 rows of seed st, it doesn’t matter.

4

so it’s the side facing me on the needles? on that specific pattern it would be the side with the 13 purl nubs?

i’m not really concerned with this pattern, because it’s pretty on both sides, but my concern will be with the color blocked afghan that i’m making with the pattern stating to change the color on the wrong side…

<sheesh> i think i’m making this too hard.

love,
b

5

I’ll bet that when you have the afghan in front of you, it’ll be pretty clear which side is the right and which is the back.

6

so it’s the side facing me on the needles? on that specific pattern it would be the side with the 13 purl nubs?

Yes, but don’t worry about it. Odd numbered rows are the RS, even numbered rows are the WS. Most patterns are like this unless they say differently.

7

THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU!!!

the Fog just lifted! YAY!!!

love,
b

8

i’m not really concerned with this pattern, because it’s pretty on both sides, but my concern will be with the color blocked afghan that i’m making with the pattern stating to change the color on the wrong side…

If you are knitting a pattern that is the similar or the same front and back or requires shaping, just pin a safety pin onto the front side. It’s just a quick, visual, don’t have to second guess myself or think reference to the public side.

Kaidy

9

As you begin that row 1 of your pattern you have the RS facing you. One thing I do sometimes if I think I might get mixed up, or don’t want to have to think about it (figure it out over and over) again is to pull a 5 or 6 inch piece of a contrasting yarn throught the work right after I have done part of row 1 so that I can tie a bow knot (like a shoe) onto that side. Then I know the bow side is the right side.

10

odd numbered rows are RS (front of the piece)and even numbered rows are WS (the back of it).