Basic Stitches
The first stitch you probably learned on the loom
was the e-wrap stitch. This is also the knit through
the back loop (k tbl) stitch. It is the most common
stitch you will encounter when loom knitting and is
often substituted for the knit stitch when converting
needle knitting patterns. This stitch is twisted
clockwise which also makes it a plaited stitch.
Together with a stitch twisted counterclockwise, you'd
have a plaited stitches. When these stitches are knit
in columns, they create a subtle type of ribbing. In
needle knitting, this stitch is stitch and has a
smaller gauge but in loom knitting this isn't the case.
However, in both needle and loom knitting, this
stitches are useful in increases and decreases because
they draw the fabric together and so cover "holes" in
the fabric.
The next two stitches you should learn are the knit
stitch and the purl stitch. Once you are familiar with
both of these, you will be able to convert needle
knitted patterns and work them as they are in the
pattern. These two stitches are "opposites": the back
of a knitted stitch is the purl stitch and vice versa.
The last required stitch to learn is the slip stitch.
At first, you will probably use it at the beginning of
rows when flat knitting. The other stitches listed in
this section are also considered "basic" stitches
though some of them you will not use often until you
get into more advanced patterns.
The elongated, k1 below and p1 below stitches all have
their specific place in knitting and it's possible to
go your entire knitting career without ever knitting
any of them.
Yarn Under
Because of how important it is to understand yarn
unders, it is described in the here as well as having
its own page at the top of
the Basic Stitches category. The information
presented in both places is the same. Understanding
where the yarn is positioned is key to following the
instructions to work stitches.
Yarn under describes the position of the yarn
and is considered a type of throw. It does not affect
the stitch count, only the position of the yarn. In
many basic stitches, yarn unders, specifically the yarn
forward and yarn back, are implied in knitting
patterns. For example, this pattern:
- R1 (RS): *K3, P2, K1; rep from * to end
- R2: *P2, K2, P2; rep from * to end
- R3: *K1, P2, K3; rep from * to end
- R4: *P3, K2, P1; rep from * to end
- R5: *K2, P2, K2; rep from * to end
- R6: *P1, K2, P3; rep from * to end
- R1 (RS): *yf K yf K yf K yf P yf P yf K; rep from * to end
- R2: *yf P yf P yf K yf K yf P yf P; rep from * to end
- R3: *yf K yf P yf P yf K yf K yf K; rep from * to end
- R4: *yf P yf P yf P yf K yf K yf P; rep from * to end
- R5: *yf K yf K yf P yf P yf K yf K; rep from * to end
- R6: *yf P yf K yf K yf P yf P yf P; rep from * to end
- Bring the yarn from the back (behind the
peg) to the front (in front of the peg) of the
work.
Yarn forwards are done automatically between
knit and purl stitches (the yarn
is brought in front of the peg to work the
knit or purl stitch). It is assumed that the
knitter understands that yf is implied to
start to work this stitch and thus is not
specificed in patterns.
Yarn fowards are also used in fancy patterns but
specific instructions are generally given in
these circumstances.
- Take the yarn from the front (in front of
the peg) to the back (behind the peg) of the
work.
Yarn backs are done automatically between
knit tbl (e-wrap)
and purl tbl (method 1) stitches
(the yarn is taken behind the peg to wrap it
and work the knit tbl (e-wrap) stitch). It is
assumed that the knitter understands that yb
is implied to start to work this stitch and
thus is not specificed in patterns. Note that
in knit tbl (e-wrap) and purl tbl (method 1)
stitches, the yarn changes position to yf and
then again to yb to complete a wrap around the
peg.
As with yarn fowards, yarn backs are also used in
fancy patterns but specific instructions are
generally given in these circumstances.
- Wyif is often found specified with slip
stitches when the yarn needs to change
positions to the front. This also ensure
that it is left on the correct side.
Example of use: slip wyif asks the knitter to bring the yarn forward (yf), slip the stitch and then take the yarn back (yb), so yf slip yb. If the yarn is already in front of the peg at the start of the stitch, leave it there. Remember that if you work a knit or purl stitch afterwards, yf is implied when you start to work the stitch. See yarn forward and yarn back above for more information.
- Wyib is often found specified with slip
stitches when the yarn needs to change
positions to the back. This also ensure that
it is left on the correct side.
Example of use: slip wyib asks the knitter to bring the yarn back (yb), slip the stitch and then take the yarn front (yf), or yb slip yf. If the yarn is already in back of the peg at the start of the stitch, leave it there. Remember that if you work a knit tbl (e-wrap) and purl tbl (method 1) stitch afterwards, yb is implied when you start to work the stitch. See yarn forward and yarn back above for more information.
