how to Kitchener stitch

In the past we’ve tried to understand the technique through text and the odd diagram, for most of us this was simply too difficult, so we resorted to running stitches to finish off the base of bags etc. Not a particularly professional result.

Initially I found the instructions difficult to understand, finally mastered the technique.

Now you can learn this technique - the fast and easy way - by following these step-by-step instructions. Use the photos to enhance the text - you’ll be thrilled with the results you achieve.

click for larger image

You can see from this photograph the neat and professional finish you will achieve when you learn how to kitchener stitch by reading the text and following the photo instructions below.

To begin - lay your two pieces of work flat on the table in front of you. You may like to pad the surface of your table to protect it from your wool needle.

Take a good close look at your knitted stitches. A completed stitch is a V shape. If you are also seeing an upside down v you are looking at one leg from each of two stitches. It’s the actual correct way up V we are working with for this exercise.

First - line up your knitting so the V follows through from the piece of knitting closest to you on up to the other piece.

It’s important you can clearly see this effect.

Basically you will be coming up through the centre of the V on the piece closest to you and under the V on the piece above, then back down the centre of the V you came up out of in the first place, then move left and repeat.....if that sounds a little complicated don’t worry, we’re simplifying it with actual how to kitchener stitch photos - let's begin.

Important : Cut a piece of yarn 3 and a half times the length of the seam you are going to make. This seems excessive but you will be duplicating knitted stitches and you don’t want to spoil the finished effect by having a join half way along.

In these learn how to kitchener stitch photos and instructions we are sewing from right to left. Same basic instructions but reverse the directions you are moving if you are left handed.

With your needle threaded and leaving a 15cm (6 ins) tail leave 2 stitches un-worked on the right hand side (it’s easier to finish these off last), but do make sure your work is lined up correctly.

Begin your kitchener stitching by coming up from the back of the piece closest to you and straight through the centre of the V.

From right to left work your needle under the back of the V on the piece above. Make sure you go under, don’t catch any of the knitted stitch on your needle.

Go back down through the centre of the V you started from, on the piece closest to you, and come up through the center of the next V on your left (see photo).

Now is the point where you check you have a continuous column of V shaped stitches. Look closely at the photo and you’ll see how you have: knitted V - sewn V - knitted V - all directly on top of each other. If you have, well done, if not. Un-pick your stitch - you’ve misaligned your work. Re-align it and try again.

Note : In these learn how to kitchener stitch photographs I’ve left the sewn stitch larger than the knitted stitch for clarity. But when you are doing this, and before moving on to the next stitch, tighten your just sewn stitch so it is exactly the same size as your knitted stitches....this is the trick to the invisible finish.

How to tighten your kitchener stitches.

How do you do this? Not the same way as you tighten mattress stitch - by yanking the thread tightly. We do this gently. Put your needle under the right hand leg of the stitch you just made and lift it up, remove your needle from that leg. Then put your needle under the left leg and pull that up, then remove your needle and gently pull the thread. Is it the same size as your knitted stitches. If not, repeat these steps until it is.

This seems laborious when you’re leaning how to kitchener stitch - but with a little practice you can do it with one pull each leg, and after a little more practice you can sew 5 or 6 stiches and go back and resize them with a quick flick each and in a few seconds.

When your sewn stitch is the same size as your knitted stitches - move on.

You finished the last step off by coming up through the center of the next stich to your left on the piece of work closest to you. Now form the next stitch by again going under the knitted stitch from right to left on the piece above.

how to kitchener stitch step 5

And back down again through the center of the piece closest to you, and up again in the center of the next knitted stitch to your left. Re-size the stitch to match your knitting as you did previously.

And there you have it .....you know now how to kitchner stitch....for an invisible finish.

The only thing left to do is finish off your ends.

Sew in the thread you’ve been working with by carefully weaving it along the seam line you just made on the wrong side (inside of your work).

Then go back to the beginning of your seam. Re-thread your wool needle and join the 2 stitches you purposely missed in the beginning. Simply work the stitches in the same manner but in reverse. Here’s how - come up through the center of the stitch on your right on the piece closest to you, then left to right under the stitch on the piece above, and back down through the centre of the stitch on the piece closest to you - repeat and weave in the end on the back of your work as previously.

A little practice and you’ll be an expert, but if you are experiencing any problem with this process, or you don’t understand any of the terminology used above you are welcome to ask me your question using our knitting help form.

In the meantime enjoy...... oh and don't worry if you don't remember all the steps - all of our patterns offering/suggesting this stitch includes links to both this page and a pdf download to be read in comfort offline.

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