Kitchner stitch

#1

Good grief! Will I ever be able to do this stitch without looking at Amy’s video!!

#2

It does get easier the more you use it. :cheering::x:

#3

I created a chant: Knit [B]off[/B] in front, purl [B]on[/B] in front, purl [B]off[/B] in back, knit [B]on[/B] in back. Repeat.

Knit and purl refer to the way the yarn enters the st: as if to knit and as if to purl. Front refers to the needle in front and back refers to the needle in back. Off means to slip the st off the needle and on means to leave it on the needle.

So you insert the yarn into the first st on the front needle as if to knit and lift it off the needle. Then insert the yarn into the next stitch on the front needle as if to purl and leave it on the needle.

Then insert the yarn as if to purl on the first stitch on the back needle and lift it off and insert the yarn as if to knit on the next stitch on the back needle and leave it on the back needle. Repeat.

Of course, the first two stitches done on any Kitchenering are unique: Insert the yarn in the front needle as if to purl and leave it on the needle. Insert the yarn in the back needle as if to knit and leave it on the needle. Then begin the chant until you are done.

Eventually I shortened the chant to Knit off, Purl on; Purl off, Knit on. :wink:

#4

Before you do anything though…Your first stitches are a purl through the front first stitch (DON’T PULL IT OFF) and a knit through the back first stitch (DON’T PULL IT OFF).

Then begin on the front row: Knit slip, Purl

Then the back row: Purl slip, Knit

knit slip, purl
purl slip, knit
knit slip, purl
purl slip, knit etc…

BTW - If anyone ever needs to do the kitchener stitch in 2x2 ribbed pattern I have the instructions for it written down in my “Big Book of things I might need”.

Easy peasy! I’m a big fan of the kitchener stitch! :teehee:

#5

I like the videos, but I also like to have a hard copy available if I need a refresher. I printed out selected text from this article including the info on garter stitch kitchener -
http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer04/FEATtheresasum04.html

Like the others I use a chant to help me remember, but I simplify it by just saying “knit purl, purl knit.” I know to always take the first stitch off and leave the second one on so I don’t need to chant that and this is easier to remember for me.

#6

While I’ve only made a handful of socks, I [U]always[/U] go to her video at least for a refresher. I’ve learned lots of other techniques via the videos, but kitchener stitch is the one that always makes me doubt myself. I find her video an absolute must. Guarantee the one time I don’t watch it is the time that the toes on my socks will look like a hot mess.

#7

I think I’m the only knitter who doesn’t find the kitchener stitch to be a big deal! As everyone says, it’s just a pattern. I remember the “set-up” because it’s sort of opposite–purling in front first, then knitting in back (and remember not to pull the stitches off!)

Then remember the front needle first, then the back needle…it’s just knit off, purl on, purl off, knit on.

(I did have to watch the videos the first 3-4 times, though!!)

#8

I have no problem with kitchener stitch. I actually enjoy doing it. I don’t do the “set up” though, I just do knit off purl on in front and purl off and knit on in the back and it makes for a nice invisible edge.

#9

I’m getting better at it, but it used to terrify me because it was so easy to get mixed up if I was distracted by any small thing. All I could think of was all those hours to knit a sock, then ruining it at the toe! Sob!

Now I just remember KPPK. The first stitch done on each needle comes off. The second stays on.

My sister laughed because I told her I was going in the other room to sew up my socks and please do not disturb me!

#10

I guess this is my problem: I am too easily distracted! And it is a really hard stitch to rip out!!! Thanks everyone for your hints and encouragement.

#11

This helped me.

  1. Knit a swatch.

  2. Knit a row in contrasting color (don’t weave the ends or anything)

  3. Knit a few more rows (I did the same length as my initial swatch).

  4. Carefully pick out the row of the contrasting color and transfer the live stitches, one at a time, onto two dpns. You will finish with the same number of stitches on each dpn and a length of contrasting yarn. You will also hopefully understand what kitchener stitch actually does.

  5. Get your bit of contrasting yarn and kitchener the two swatches you just picked apart back together.

#12

I’ve knit many socks, but I certainly don’t do the kitchner stitch every day, so I always look at a quick refresher (either video or I have several books).

Also, when I get to this part, I need to go off in a room by myself with no distractions and talk myself through it. My husband knows not to bother me during ‘sock toe surgery’.

#13

Just found this:
http://www.knittingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/2009/08/14/the-knit-a-long-post-wrap-up-new-pattern-announcement-and-a-free-pattern.aspx#V1 check it out!!! arrived just in time!

#14

I couldn’t agree more! When it comes to closing the toe on my socks, I watch her video, EVERY SINGLE TIME!

(BTW: “Hot mess” LOL! I love that expression! :roflhard: Is there a categorical difference between a hot mess and a cold mess? Just askin’…)

#15

This stitch is easier the more practice you have.

#16

[COLOR="#300090"]
That sounds like an excellent way to see what the grafting/Kitchener stitch is doing.

Some time ago I was playing around and drawing on my computer. I just made this quick modification to illustrate the Kitchener stitch.


[Grafted st st]
:cool:
[/color]

#17

I would rather do a whole sock out of Kitchener than sew in the loose ends! Who knows why??

Anyway. I had two revelations that set me on the proper path for Kitchener. YMMV.

  1. The instructions will say at some point to put the needle into a stitch and take it off the needle. This means to take the stitch off the needle and THEN pull the yarn all the way through. The first couple times I did it, I was leaving the stitch on the needle, pulling the yarn tight, and then taking the stitch off. It might be possible to do it correctly that way, but in my case it just resulted in extra confusion with respect to getting the yarn under the needles and not over or around.

  2. I need to follow the directions. Period. For some reason looking at pictures and diagrams is simply not helpful–which is usually not the case for me.