Reversible Knitting Stitches For Times When You Want to Flip
Making a scarf or an afghan? Check out these reversible knitting stitches!
One of the biggest mistakes beginning knitters make occurs when they don't use reversible knitting stitches on something like a scarf or afghan. Why is that important? Well, if you're making a sweater or a sock -- something where people only see one side of it -- then it's not. No one really cares what the 'wrong' side looks like.
But with some items, when people are going to see the reverse of your pattern, you really don't want it to be an ugly maze of crisscrossed lines and bizarre shapes. Using reversible knit stitches ensures that both sides of your finished product are a beauty and a joy. Convinced? Here are some easy knitting stitches to get you going.
1. The Box Stitch
The box stitch is a common reversible stitch because it makes easy knitting: if you can knit and purl, you can box stitch. It also creates quite a nice pattern and sets your work apart from plain old garter stitch, which can get boring to make.
To use the box stitch:
Cast on a multiple of 4 with two extra
Row 1: k2, p2 to end
Row 2: p2, k2 to end
Row 3: as row 2
Row 4: as row 1
2. The Moss Stitch
The moss stitch is another one of those easy knit stitches that only requires you to knit and purl: no fancy criss-crosses or slipped stitches, making it a safe place to try something new.
To use the moss stitch:
Cast on any number of stitches (if you use an odd number, you'll just end with the same type of stitch you started with -- no biggie).
Row 1: K1, P1 to end
Row 2: As row 1
Row 3: P1, K1 to end
Row 4: As row 3
3. Seed Stitch
With stitches knitting becomes fun and easy, and it looks better besides. The seed stitch is a perfect example of that. It makes a very pretty little beaded-type pattern (hence the name: the bumps look like small seeds sprinkled across your finished product), but it's still very easy to make. Like most reversible knitting stitches, you only use knits and purls to get the job done.
To use the seed stitch:
Cast on any number of stitches, but note that the pattern is a bit different depending on whether you have an even or odd amount.
For an odd number:
All rows: K1, P1 to end
For an even number:
Row 1: K1, P1 to end
Row 2: P1, K1 to end
These three very basic, easy knitting stitches will get you going on anything that requires a reversible pattern.
