Reversible Knitting Stitches for All Your Project Needs
Learn about reversible knitting stitches to add interest to your projects
Simply put, reversible knitting stitches are stitches that look great from both sides. Many knitting stitches have a definite "right" and "wrong" side (such as the common garter stitch, or the stockinette stitch). This is no problem if you're making, say, a sweater or a toy, something where you're only going to see one side of the project.
But what if you're making a dishcloth or an afghan -- something you'd like to be able to use without worrying about which side is showing? These knitting stitches look great from any angle, so you'll never have to worry again!
1. Box Stitch
The box stitch is a great place to start if you're a beginning knitter looking to graduate to something slightly more complex without getting very complicated. It's a great looking stitch and very simple to achieve. The pattern is worked over four rows as follows:
Row 1: k2, *p2, k2; rep from *
Row 2: p2, *k2, p2; rep from *
Row 3: Rep Row 2
Row 4: Rep Row 1
2. Shaker Rib (or Fisherman's Rib)
This is another very easy stitch, perfect for those who want to learn new knitting stitches without ripping any hairs out. Simply cast on and purl one row. From then on, every row is the same: P1, knit the next stitch in the row below, repeat to the last two and P2.
3. Pyramid Stitch
This isn't a very complicated pattern but it looks fantastic. You'll be very pleased with the results. Great for afghans or anything where you want some interesting detail without getting overwhelmed with patterns.
Row 1: k5, *p1, k5; rep from *
Row 2: k1, *p3, k3; rep from *, end p3, k1
Row 3: p2, *k1, p5; rep from *, end k1, p2
Row 4: Rep Row 3
Row 5: Rep Row 2
Row 6: Rep Row 1
4. Parallelograms
All right, I admit it: this is one of my favorite knitting stitches simply because it's so much fun to say. Try it three times fast, I dare you! It's not that complicated to knit, either. The pattern is worked over ten stitches; you can, of course, repeat it.
Row 1: P5, K5
Row 2: K1, P4, K4, P1
Row 3: K2, P3, K3, P2
Row 4: K3, P2, K2, P3
Row 5: K4, P1, K1, P4
Row 6: K5, P5
Row 7: P1, K4, P4, K1
Row 8: P2, K3, P3, K2
Row 9: P3, K2, P2, K3
Row 10: P4, K1, P1, K4
And there you have it! Four fun, easy knitting stitches that look great from either side!