Knit in stockinette stitch in rows

Gründl Knitting School

Knitting purl stitch in rows – Video tutorial for beginners

Knitting purl stitch in rows – Video tutorial for beginners

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After stockinette stitch in rows, reverse stockinette stitch follows right away. Are you ready for a wonderful basic pattern that impresses with its three-dimensional structure?

When is reverse stockinette stitch used?

Reverse stockinette stitch is often used in combination with other patterns. A very well-known example is the cable knit pattern. To give a cable more definition and to make it stand out as much as possible, it is usually surrounded by purl stitches. Striped patterns are also often knitted using a combination of purl and knit stitches. For example, several rows of purl stitch are knitted alternately with several rows of knit stitch.

How to knit reverse stockinette stitch?

Here is our step-by-step guide to knitting reverse stockinette stitch: Every right-side row consists of purl stitches, and every wrong-side row is knitted exclusively with knit stitches.

If you want to knit reverse stockinette stitch with selvedge stitches, one selvedge stitch is added at the very beginning of each row and one selvedge stitch at the end of each row, in addition to the required number of stitches. The first selvedge stitch on the needle is always knitted – regardless of whether it's a right-side or wrong-side row. The last stitch in each row – i.e., the second selvedge stitch – is slipped with the yarn in front of the work in every right-side and wrong-side row. This creates an even edge that looks like a chain of stitches.

What is the difference between reverse stockinette stitch in rows and reverse stockinette stitch in the round?

Unlike reverse stockinette stitch in rows, no selvedge stitches are knitted when knitting reverse stockinette stitch in the round. This creates a knitted piece in the shape of a cylinder. Reverse stockinette stitch in rows, on the other hand, produces flat pieces that are suitable for all open knitted items such as scarves and jackets. If you want to knit reverse stockinette stitch in the round, you don't have to turn your work, as only right-side rows are knitted. This means that only purl stitches are knitted. In this video, we explain exactly how you can knit reverse stockinette stitch in the round and for which knitted items this pattern is particularly suitable.

How are rows counted? Right side:

Since we are knitting purl stitches, meaning purl stitches appear on the right side of our knitted piece, let's start by counting purl stitches: Purl stitches create small half-circles that are either open upwards or downwards. Focus either on the "umbrellas" or "smileys" and count them from bottom to top or top to bottom.

How are rows counted? Wrong side:

Knit stitches appear as small "V's" on the wrong side of your reverse stockinette stitch work. Each "V" is counted as one row.
You can also count your knitted piece along the selvedge stitches. One selvedge stitch then counts as two rows.

Knit your first scarf – with Gründl Knitting School

In addition to the general Gründl Knitting School, the "Your First Scarf" series offers videos that allow you to easily and comfortably knit your own scarf from home. From color changes to fringes, we show you all the knitting techniques you need for it.

Free knitting pattern for your scarf

You can download the free pattern here and also order the matching yarn in the colors of your choice.