Crossed Stitches

Example cable stitch: 2 over 2 left

When working crossed stitches, one stitch or a group of stitches are worked after the next stitch or group. One thing to keep in mind is that crossed stitches make a denser fabric because it increases the yarn tension. This will effect your gauge. Good looming habits are a must with crossed stitches. If you do not wrap loosely, you will find it next to impossible to move the stitches. There are some tricks to help you but you should not rely on these alone.

There are two basic types of crossed stitches: the cross stitch and the cable stitch.

Crossed Stitches
Stitch How Many Stitches Involved Aids Used
Cross Two Stitches  
Cable Two Groups of Stitches Cable Needle

How crossing works, depends upon whether you are knitting circular or flat and for flat, which direction you are knitting. In needle knitting, the first stitch always stays back for a right cross and it stays front for a left cross. Use the charts below to determine which stitches stay in front and which stay in back when working on the loom. If you setup your stitches before knitting off the row, you can just memorize the sequence for circular knitting and always setup the rows from the right to the left. Because some people prefer to setup the rows in the same manner that you knit it, both information is provided.

Circular
Flat

Remember that you knit from right to left around the loom (clockwise).

Crossed Stitches in Circular Knitting
Direction Grouping Position
Right First Front
Right Second Back
Left First Back
Left Second Front

Remember that you knit from right to left for odd rows and then from left to right for even rows. Note: Setting it up, Front is on the bottom and Back is on the top.

Crossed Stitches in Flat Knitting
Direction Row Grouping Position
Right Odd First Front
Right Odd Second Back
Right Even First Back
Right Even Second Front
Left Odd First Back
Left Odd Second Front
Left Even First Front
Left Even Second Back