Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Giveaway: Knitting for a Cure

by

enter to win a copy of knitting for a cure

Congratulations to Lee.

October, as we all probably know, is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and Kay Meadors has a lovely little book of patterns called Knitting for a Cure, full of 18 projects to offer support and encouragement to people in treatment, survivors and loved ones who have been touched by breast cancer.

The projects are all worked in shades of pink and many use the awareness ribbon as a motif, but of course these same projects could be worked in other colors to highlight different causes or diseases.

There are lots of shawls and scarves in the book as well as hats, mitts, pillows and other items for the home.

If you’d like a chance to win a copy of this book, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, October 5. If you have a breast cancer story you’re willing to share I’d love to hear it. Or tell me your favorite cause to bring awareness to, through knitting or otherwise.

Thanks for visiting, commenting and sharing. Good luck!

Next Pattern:

Comments

  1. My Aunt was recently diagnosed with lung cancer. I was thinking of making her something but couldn’t think of anything to make. This book could give me some ideas.

  2. A very dear friend of mine, my Fb mom started therapy today, I’d love to get some ideas to make her something awesome to make her feel better and as pretty as she always was

  4. My dear mother-in-law is a breast cancer survivor. I met and married her son years after she had been diagnosed. She taught me how to knit and we have spent many happy hours visiting yarn shops, trading patterns, and knitting together. Once I became proficient I knitted a pair of socks for her and my father-in-law. They were so grateful and pleased. It’s been wonderful to return the gift of time my husband’s mother gave to me.

  5. My sister had stage 4 cancer and beat it. It was not breast cancer but a very rare and aggressive form of another. She was given a 5-10% chance of living. That was in 2001. She and I and my husband and her daughter just went apple picking this weekend.

    It is not just the patient that goes through the cancer treatment it is the entire family. We all pulled together to rally her and to help in any way we could (donating platelet and blood was a big one) or just spending time together.

  6. I would love a copy of this book so i could knit a lots of these items up and donate them to my local cancer research shop and the Macmillan unit that my husband attends regularly.

  7. My 37-year-old daughter starts chemo on October 1. Breast cancer surgery was in August with positive thoughts constantly. Mom is allowed to wear the “pink” so have been busy making hats not in pink for her.

  8. My eldest Sister had Melanoma, Sister #2 had bowel and breast and skin cancer, sister #3 and my self have had skin cancer. My Dad had melanoma and my Mom Uterine Cancer. One of my Niece’s passed away from breast cancer. Only my Brother has escaped.

  11. Lost my Sister in law 2 years ago to cervical cancer & other sis in law has fought and won breast & bone cancer! My 2 aunts won against breast cancer another against thyroid cancer!

  12. My mum died of breast cancer which then spread to all her organs nearly 11 years ago. Then 3 years ago I was diagnosed with colon cancer and, hopefully, will be given the all clear very soon. My mum was a great knitter and I now knit scarves and other accessories for my business so this book would be a lovely tribute to her.

  13. My mum had both breast and cervical cancer over 35 years ago and is still alive and well and full of energy in her late 70s! It is so important to go for screening as the earlier any cancer is found the better chance of successful treatment!

  14. I have many close family and friends who have had cancer – some survivors and some it did get the best of but they fought. I would love to win and make some gifts for my survivors!! thanks!

  15. I knit for several charities; one is chemo caps which is the project of the Yarncrafters of #First Parish Church, Gorham, Maine. We would love a copy of this book and could put it to excellent use.

  16. I work for a cancer survivors organization and we are creating a knitting group for our clients. This book would be a wonderful source of patterns for our participants and for charity knitting for cancer patients in our area.

    Thanks for this wonderful giveaway!!

  18. I just recently lost a very dear friend to breast cancer. She was diagnosed at the age of 38 and on her 39th birthday came to her party without hair due to cancer treatments. She fought every step of the way to survive…always with a smile on her face. Unfortunately, at the young age of 43 she lost her battle with this horrible disease. What a great gift to receive this book to help give back to family and friends left behind with only memories to hold onto. Thank you for this opportunity.

  20. “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for another.” My niece found out she had an aggressive form of breast cancer while pregnant with her 4th child. She refused treatment that would hurt the baby. She carried him until he could be safely delivered. She underwent treatment but we lost her just before her 31st birthday. She is my #1 example of heroic love.

  22. I am an 8 year breast cancer survivor, my knitting group has just started knitting hats for a friend of mine that started chemo two weeks ago. It would be great to have some other items to donate to her chemo center.

  23. A former co-worker lost a very long battle after 2 rounds of breast cancer. I’d love to be able to knit some some items from this book in her memory.

  24. Heart Disease is my favorite cause, but I believe breast cancer is very worthy also. I love to see things published to further any good cause.

  25. I have recently celebrated being an eleven year survivor of breast cancer. To me, I believe I had a miracle. I usually would get my mammograms in June, but for some reason, I just kept putting it off. No particular reason–it wasn’t as if I was too busy. Then in early Sept, a voice went off in my head to “go get it now”. They found a tumor the size of a pea. I was told that it was so small that it would not have been noticeable in June. But it was agressive so had I gotten a normal result in June, by the following year, I could have been stage 4. So always remember to listen to the voices in your head. It may be the voice of your guardian angel trying to protect you!

  26. As a certified post mastectomy fitter ,and owner of a wig boutique ,I work with these strong ,courageous women and men every day.
    I am also a Look Good Feel Better volunteer thru the American Cancer Society.
    I try to purchase and use any product I can whose parent company donates to and supports cancer research. Unfortunately this cancer is so common that none of us knows if we will be the next fighter.

  28. I would love to try some new patterns for my friends who have had breast cancer. They all have ruffle scarves in pink…but they could all use another pink gift as a reward for winning their battle. :>) MS

  30. I’ve been invited to join a craft morning with a group of ladies from my area. This book has a few projects that we could do together and donate or sell for fund raising.

Have you read?

How To Do Kitchener Stitch: A Beginner-Friendly Guide To Grafting Knitting Seamlessly

Kitchener stitch is one of those knitting techniques that feels a little bit mysterious until you finally sit down and do it. It is often used to close the toes of socks, but it is also a wonderfully neat way to join two sets of live stitches together without making a bulky seam.

If you have ever finished a beautiful sock and then paused at the toe because the pattern says “graft remaining stitches,” this is the tutorial you want to keep handy.

Kitchener stitch, also called grafting, creates a row of stitches between two pieces of knitting so the join looks almost invisible. Instead of binding off and sewing two edges together, you use a tapestry needle and yarn to form a new row of knitting between the live stitches.

It is one of the most useful finishing techniques for knitters, especially if you enjoy knitting socks, mittens, cowls, loop scarves, or garments where a smooth join matters.

You might also like this older CraftGossip post on grafting with Kitchener stitch, and if you want to go deeper into finishing techniques, this post on mastering grafting in knitting is another helpful read.

What Is Kitchener Stitch?

Kitchener stitch is a method of grafting two sets of live stitches together. The stitches stay on two needles, usually held parallel to each other, and you use a threaded tapestry needle to work through the stitches in a specific order.

When done well, the finished join looks like one continuous piece of knitting.

This is why Kitchener stitch is so popular for:

  • sock toes
  • mitten tips
  • shoulder joins
  • cowls
  • loop scarves
  • seamless tube projects
  • underarm stitches on some sweaters
  • small knitted bags and pouches

It is most commonly used on stockinette stitch, but grafting can also be adapted for other stitch patterns once you understand the basic idea.

Why Use Kitchener Stitch Instead Of Sewing A Seam?

The biggest benefit of Kitchener stitch is that it creates a smooth, almost invisible join. That matters most in places where you do not want a bulky seam, such as the toe of a sock.

A sewn seam across a sock toe can feel uncomfortable inside a shoe. Kitchener stitch avoids that by creating a flat, flexible finish.

It also gives knitted items a more polished look. If you are making gifts, charity knits, socks, or heirloom-style projects, learning this one technique can make your finished pieces look much neater.

For knitters who enjoy socks, you may also like this roundup of knitting patterns using sock yarn, especially if you have leftover yarn after finishing a pair.

Supplies You Need

To work Kitchener stitch, you will need:

  • two knitting needles holding live stitches
  • a tapestry needle or darning needle
  • yarn tail or matching yarn
  • scissors
  • good lighting
  • a little patience the first time

If you are working sock toes, most patterns will tell you how many stitches to leave on each needle before grafting.

As a general guide, leave a yarn tail at least three times the width of the stitches you are grafting. If you are unsure, leave a little extra. It is much easier to weave in a longer tail than to run out halfway across.

A blunt-tip tapestry needle is easier to control than a sharp sewing needle because it slides between yarn strands without splitting them as much. You can find tapestry needles, sock knitting tools, stitch markers, and finishing supplies through places such as Amazon, Mary Maxim, or your favorite local yarn store.

Before You Start: Set Up Your Stitches

For standard Kitchener stitch on stockinette:

Hold the two needles parallel, with the wrong sides of the knitting facing each other.

The right side of the knitting should be facing out.

The needle closest to you is the front needle.

The needle farther away from you is the back needle.

Thread your yarn tail onto a tapestry needle.

Try to keep the stitches sitting neatly on the needles and avoid twisting them before you begin.

The Kitchener Stitch Mantra

Many knitters remember Kitchener stitch with this little rhythm:

Front needle: knit off, purl on.
Back needle: purl off, knit on.

That means:

On the front needle, go into the first stitch knitwise and take it off. Then go into the next stitch purlwise and leave it on.

On the back needle, go into the first stitch purlwise and take it off. Then go into the next stitch knitwise and leave it on.

Once you get into the rhythm, it becomes much less intimidating.

Kitchener Stitch Step-By-Step

Setup Step 1

Insert the tapestry needle into the first stitch on the front needle as if to purl.

Pull the yarn through.

Leave the stitch on the knitting needle.

Setup Step 2

Insert the tapestry needle into the first stitch on the back needle as if to knit.

Pull the yarn through.

Leave the stitch on the knitting needle.

Now you are ready to begin the repeating sequence.

Step 1: Front Needle, Knitwise, Off

Insert the tapestry needle into the first stitch on the front needle as if to knit.

Pull the yarn through.

Slip that stitch off the knitting needle.

Step 2: Front Needle, Purlwise, On

Insert the tapestry needle into the next stitch on the front needle as if to purl.

Pull the yarn through.

Leave that stitch on the knitting needle.

Step 3: Back Needle, Purlwise, Off

Insert the tapestry needle into the first stitch on the back needle as if to purl.

Pull the yarn through.

Slip that stitch off the knitting needle.

Step 4: Back Needle, Knitwise, On

Insert the tapestry needle into the next stitch on the back needle as if to knit.

Pull the yarn through.

Leave that stitch on the knitting needle.

Repeat these four steps until all stitches have been grafted.

A Simple Way To Remember It

Say this out loud as you work:

Knit off, purl on.
Purl off, knit on.

It feels silly the first few times, but it works. Many knitters mutter this little phrase while closing sock toes, and honestly, anything that helps you avoid losing your place is worth doing.

How Tight Should Kitchener Stitch Be?

One of the most common mistakes with Kitchener stitch is pulling the yarn too tightly.

You are not sewing a seam closed. You are creating a new row of knitting.

After every few stitches, gently adjust the tension so the grafted row matches the surrounding stitches. If you pull too tightly, the join may pucker. If you leave it too loose, the grafted row may look stretched out.

A good trick is to look at the stitches beside the graft and try to match their size.

Do not panic if it looks a little uneven while it is still on the needles. Kitchener stitch often looks better once everything is off the needles and the tension has been gently adjusted.

How To Finish The Last Stitches

When you get to the final stitches, continue the sequence as closely as possible.

If there is only one stitch left on a needle, work the “off” part of the sequence for that stitch.

Pull the yarn through gently and then weave the tail into the inside or wrong side of the project.

For socks, weave the end into the inside of the toe so it will not be visible.

Troubleshooting Kitchener Stitch

My graft looks too tight

You probably pulled the yarn too firmly as you worked. Use the tip of your tapestry needle to gently loosen each grafted stitch, working from one side to the other.

My graft looks loose

Gently snug up the grafted stitches one at a time. Do not yank the working yarn all at once, as this can make one area tight and another loose.

I lost my place

Pause and look at the stitches. If the last stitch was removed from the front needle, you are probably ready to work the “purl on” part on the front needle or move to the back needle. If you are a beginner, it helps to say the mantra out loud every single time.

I split the yarn

A blunt tapestry needle helps prevent splitting. If a stitch looks split and messy, carefully undo that part before continuing.

The join looks like a seam, not a row of knitting

This usually means the tension is too tight or the needle was inserted in the wrong direction on some stitches. Practice on a swatch before using Kitchener stitch on a special project.

Practice Before Grafting A Real Project

If Kitchener stitch makes you nervous, knit two small stockinette swatches and place the live stitches on two needles. Use a contrasting yarn to practice grafting across the stitches.

Practicing with a different color makes it easier to see what the grafted row is doing. Once you understand the movement, try again with matching yarn.

This is especially useful before grafting handmade socks, because sock toes are small and can feel fiddly the first few times.

When Else Can You Use Kitchener Stitch?

Kitchener stitch is most famous for sock toes, but it is helpful in many other knitting projects.

Use it for joining the ends of a cowl or loop scarf, especially when you start with a provisional cast on. This CraftGossip post on making loop scarves from stash yarn mentions using a provisional cast on so the ends can be grafted together neatly.

You can also use Kitchener stitch for small bags, seamless headbands, mitten tips, and some garment joins.

If you are brushing up on knitting basics, this post on favorite ways to cast on is a good companion read, especially if you are learning how different beginnings and endings affect the finish of a project.

Kitchener Stitch For Sock Knitters

If you knit socks from the cuff down, Kitchener stitch is one of the most useful finishing techniques you can learn.

Most cuff-down sock patterns end with a small number of stitches divided between two needles. Kitchener stitch closes those stitches without creating a ridge across the toe.

For a comfortable sock toe:

Keep the stitches evenly divided.

Do not pull the graft too tightly.

Check that the toe lies flat before weaving in the end.

Use matching yarn whenever possible.

Once the sock is finished, blocking can also help smooth the stitches and even out the graft.

If you enjoy knitting small accessories, you might also like these easy headband knitting patterns, which are great projects for practicing finishing techniques on something smaller than a sweater.

Kitchener stitch has a reputation for being tricky, but it is really just a short sequence repeated across two needles. Once you remember the rhythm — knit off, purl on, purl off, knit on — it becomes much easier.

The real secret is to slow down, keep your tension relaxed, and remember that you are creating a row of knitting, not stitching a seam shut.

It may not feel natural the first time, but after a few sock toes or practice swatches, Kitchener stitch becomes one of those finishing skills you will be glad to have in your knitting toolkit.