How to Crochet the Knit Stitch | In Rows & Rounds
A Crochet Tutorial
Welcome to The Restful Stitch! In this tutorial you will learn how to crochet the knit stitch in both rows and rounds.
The knit stitch is a variation of the single crochet stitch. It also goes by the waistcoat stitch or the center post stitch. This simple stitch creates a dense fabric that is great for bags, baskets, straps and anything that you need a sturdy build for.
For this tutorial, you will need to know the basics of crocheting. If you are an absolute beginner, please check out my tutorial for beginners first.
Notes on How to Crochet the Knit Stitch
- You will be inserting your hook in the center of the “v” of the stitch. This can be tight, so making your stitches loose is helpful.
- Using a smaller hook than recommended on the yarn packaging can help with poking through the correct space.
Materials
- Any color worsted weight (medium, #4) yarn. I am using Classic Cotton Big Ball™ Solid Yarn by Loops & Threads® in Bubblegum and Peacock
- hook size one down from size recommended on yarn packaging.
- Scissors
- stitch marker
Stitches & Abbreviations
- ch – chain stitch
- mc –magic circle
- sc – single crochet – Insert hook, yarn over, pull up a loop. (2 loops on hook) Yarn over, pull through 2 loops. (one loop on hook)
- ss – slip stitch
- st(s) – stitch(es)
How to Crochet the Knit Stitch in the Round
I have a full tutorial on how to crochet in the round and how to crochet the single crochet stitch, so I am not going to go into detail on those here. Correct stitch placement will be the object of this tutorial.
We are going to start with rounds because it is easier to get an idea of stitch placement when working the knit stitch in rounds. We work through the center of the “v” of the previous row’s stitch. When working in rounds, we do not turn, so the “V” is always on the side facing us.
- You can begin the knit stitch with round 2, just work your increases in the center of the “V”.
- Continuous rounds look cleaner with the knit stitch (or any stitch really) so I recommend using that method of crocheting in the round whenever possible.
How to Crochet the Knit Stitch in Rows
When crocheting the knit stitch we want each stitch to be made through the center “V” on the front of the stitch. We turn our work to begin each row, so the “V” will be at the back of our work. We will put our hook through to the left of the inverted “V” at the front of our work and it will come through the center of the “V” at the back.
To Start
Make a foundation chain of any number.
Row 1
Sc in second ch from hook and each ch across. If you naturally crochet tight, try to create looser stitches.
Row 2
Ch 1, turn. The first sc of the row will go to the left of a single “arm” of the stitch. If you look at the back of your work, your hook should go through the center of the first “V” as indicated in the 3rd image below.
For the next sc insert your hook to the left of the inverted “V”. If you look to the back of the work, your hook should come out through the center of the “V”.
Continue to sc to the left of the inverted “V” of each st across.
Repeat row 2 until the desired length is reached.
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Thank you for visiting The Restful Stitch!
My name is Heather and I have been crocheting for over 20 years and making up my own patterns for almost as long. As a home school mother, heavily influenced by Charlotte Mason, I have a passion for mother culture – that is the continued self education of mothers. Through learning useful skills, creating art and reading great literature, all who so desire can continue to grow in wisdom and virtue. I believe that for mothers this is especially important as an example to our children and for the nourishing of our souls.
Through these free crochet tutorials and free crochet patterns I hope to share the joy and rest that I find in this art. In this space I pray to form a community of like minded woman, who are inspired to live up to their potential as whole people formed in the image of a wise, creative and good God.
-Heather
