Glossary / Knit
kKnit
The fundamental knitting stitch, the smooth V on the front.
How to work it
With yarn in back, insert the right needle front to back through the first stitch on the left needle. Wrap the yarn around the right needle, pull the loop through, and slip the old stitch off. Knit every row and you get garter stitch; alternate with purl for stockinette.
Common confusions
What is the difference between k and p?
They are the same action from opposite sides. A knit stitch pushes the loop away from you and shows a smooth V; a purl pulls it toward you and shows a bump. The back of every knit stitch is a purl. Everything else in knitting is a combination of these two.
Why do my stitches look twisted?
The needle is entering the wrong leg of the stitch, or the stitch is sitting backwards on the needle. A correctly mounted stitch has its right leg in front. Entering through the back leg by accident twists the base, which reads as a tighter, crisper row than the ones around it.
In other languages
| Language | Term | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|
| English | Knit | k |
| Español | Punto del derecho | d |
| Deutsch | Rechte Masche | re |
| Français | Maille endroit | end |
| Italiano | Maglia diritto | no standard code |
| 日本語 | 表目 | no standard code |
Guides that use this stitch
Related stitches
Keep your place while you work this stitch. Worsted counts your rows and rounds and remembers your spot in the pattern, for crochet and knitting.
Get Worsted