Kitchner stitch

[tilllie]

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

[mathwizard]

It does get easier the more you use it.

[LizzieK8]

I created a chant: Knit off in front, purl on in front, purl off in back, knit on 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.

[Sunshine's Mom]

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!

[Jan in CA]

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/...resasum04.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.

[debminerva]

While I've only made a handful of socks, I always 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.

[Lisa R.]

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!!)

[Plantgoddess+]

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.

[Cirrus]

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!

[tilllie]

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.