Kitchener Stitch

Kitchener stitch is a method of grafting together live stitches, which is often used to finish the toes of socks or to join the shoulders of sweaters or vests. It can be worked over many different stitch patterns, but the steps below describe Kitchener stitch for joining stockinette stitch. The joining stitches form another row of stockinette between the two pieces of knitting, meaning the join is both invisible and seamless.

Materials

You will need two needles (either two straight needles, double pointed needles or a circular needle) and a blunt tapestry needle.

Setup Steps

These steps should be worked once at the beginning of the joining row.

Step 1: Divide the live stitches equally between two needles, with the wrong sides facing. You can either use the tail of the working yarn, or a new yarn. If you are using the tail, it should be on the right hand side of your needles. Thread the tail with a blunt tapestry needle.

Step 2: Insert the tapestry needle into the first stitch on the front needle purlwise. Pull the yarn through the stitch, leaving the stitch on the needle.

Step 3: Insert the tapestry needle into the first stitch on the back needle knitwise. Pull the yarn through the stitch, leaving the stitch on the needle.

Repeated Steps

Repeat steps 1-4 until there are just two stitches left (one on each needle), and then repeat step 1 and step 3 once more.

Step 1: Insert the tapestry needle into the first stitch on the front needle knitwise. Slip the stitch off the needle.

Step 2: Insert the tapestry needle into the next stitch on the front needle purlwise. Leave the stitch on the needle.

Step 3: Insert the tapestry needle into the first stitch on the back needle purlwise. Slip the stitch off the needle.

Step 4: Insert the tapestry needle into the next stitch on the back needle knitwise. Leave the stitch on the needle.

Try not to pull the stitches tight as you are working, instead pause every few stitches and use the tip of the tapestry needle or a crochet hook to even up the tension of the stitches that you have just worked. If the tension is too tight the join will be visible, and it won’t be stretchy.

Finishing

Once all the stitches are off the needles, cut the yarn and weave in the tail.