There are some knitting projects where the wrong side really doesn’t matter. A sweater? Fine. A cushion cover? Nobody is peeking around the back unless they’re being particularly nosy.

But scarves, blankets, shawls and wraps are a completely different story.

They flip. They fold. They get thrown over the arm of the sofa, dragged around by children, twisted around necks and generally refuse to stay neatly positioned with their prettiest side facing upwards.

That’s exactly why I love reversible knitting stitch patterns.

A good reversible knitting stitch either looks identical on both sides or produces two slightly different surfaces that are both attractive enough to show. Either way, you don’t have that obvious “wrong side” announcing itself every time your scarf catches a breeze.

Many reversible knitting patterns have another useful little bonus too: because they combine knit and purl stitches more evenly than plain stockinette, they often lie flatter and resist curling.

If you’ve ever finished a stockinette scarf only to discover you’ve accidentally knitted yourself a long woolly sausage, you’ll appreciate that particular feature.

Below I’ve gathered 30 reversible knitting stitch patterns and projects ranging from the wonderfully simple garter and seed stitches through to reversible cables, brioche, geometric textures and double knitting.

Before you start, it’s also worth bookmarking CraftGossip’s guide to Seed Stitch vs Moss Stitch, particularly because British and American knitting terminology can make those two stitches rather confusing.

Easy Reversible Knitting Stitch Patterns for Beginners

Garter Stitch

Garter Stitch Tutorial

Sometimes the simplest stitch really is one of the best. Knit every row and you have wonderfully squishy garter stitch, a fully reversible fabric that lies flat and works beautifully for scarves, blankets, dishcloths and baby knits.

It’s also perfect when you’ve bought a gorgeous yarn and don’t want an elaborate stitch pattern competing with it.

Reverse Garter Stitch

Reverse Garter Stitch Tutorial

This is essentially garter stitch’s purl-loving cousin. Instead of knitting every row, you purl every row to create a fully reversible fabric with that familiar ridged texture.

Is it the fastest option for someone who doesn’t enjoy purling? Perhaps not. But it is an excellent stitch exercise if you’re trying to make your purl tension as comfortable as your knitting.

1×1 Rib Stitch

1×1 Rib Stitch Tutorial

Knit one, purl one is about as classic as knitting gets. The alternating columns create a stretchy reversible fabric that’s ideal for scarves, cowls, cuffs and edges.

It contracts quite a bit when relaxed, so remember that a ribbed scarf can look much narrower off the needles than you expect.

Reversible Moss, Seed and Textured Stitches

Seed Stitch Blanket

Three Wishes Baby Blanket

This lovely simple CraftBits blanket can be worked in garter, seed or moss stitch, making it a good practical example of how reversible textures work in a real project.

Seed stitch is particularly nice for blankets because that little pebbled surface looks finished from either side and lies beautifully flat.

Double Moss Stitch

Double Moss Stitch

Double moss — also called double seed, box stitch or double Irish moss in various knitting circles — creates chunky little blocks of knit and purl texture.

It’s reversible, easy to memorise once you get into the rhythm and particularly good for blankets and scarves where you want more texture than ordinary seed stitch.

Moss Stitch Diamond

Moss Stitch Diamond Pattern

This one takes moss-style texture into much more decorative territory. Knits and purls form large diamond shapes across the fabric, giving you a patterned look without colourwork.

I’d use a smooth, solid yarn for this one so all that lovely stitch definition doesn’t disappear into a fuzzy or highly variegated yarn.

Moss Diamond and Lozenge Stitch

Moss Diamond and Lozenge

If plain seed stitch feels a little too sensible, this larger geometric pattern is a beautiful next step. Diamonds and lozenges emerge purely through combinations of knit and purl stitches.

It has the sort of traditional texture that would look gorgeous worked into an heirloom throw.

Reversible Rib Knitting Patterns

Fisherman’s Rib

Fisherman’s Rib Super Scarf

Fisherman’s rib produces one of those irresistibly squishy fabrics you keep squeezing while you’re knitting.

This free CraftBits scarf is a lovely way to try it on a proper project. Fisherman’s rib is thick, warm and reversible, making it particularly well suited to winter scarves and wraps.

Just be warned: all that glorious squish does use plenty of yarn.

Broken Rib

Big Bulky Broken Rib Blanket

Broken rib has enough structure to resemble traditional ribbing but feels a little more relaxed.

This CraftBits blanket uses the stitch with super bulky yarn, which really shows how useful broken rib can be for cosy home projects. Both surfaces are attractive even though they aren’t necessarily mirror images.

Shaker Rib

Shaker Rib Stitch

Shaker rib is closely related to Fisherman’s rib and is sometimes referred to as half-Fisherman’s rib.

It creates a deep, warm texture that works particularly well for scarves and winter accessories. If ordinary ribbing feels a little too predictable, this is a lovely one to experiment with.

Cartridge Belt Rib

Cartridge Belt Rib

Cartridge Belt Rib is one of those clever stitches that looks much more complicated than it really is.

It creates elongated vertical ribs using slipped stitches and, wonderfully, can be worked without the constant knit-one-purl-one switching of ordinary ribbing. It’s a good choice for scarves, towels and wraps.

Slip-Stitch 2×2 Rib

Slip-Stitch 2×2 Ribbing

This fully reversible stitch creates a puffier, richer version of traditional 2×2 ribbing.

I particularly like this one if you want obvious vertical texture without the fabric drawing in as aggressively as standard ribbing.

Broken Rib Stitch

Broken Rib Knit Stitch Tutorial

Another useful broken-rib variation, this version creates two attractive sides rather than two identical ones.

That still makes it an excellent choice for scarves, cowls and shawls where the fabric is constantly turning over while being worn.

Reversible Diagonal and Geometric Knitting Stitches

Diagonal Rib Stitch

Diagonal Rib Stitch

Traditional ribbing suddenly becomes much more interesting when you send those lines travelling diagonally across the fabric.

This reversible eight-row pattern is created entirely with knits and purls and lays flat, making it particularly tempting for a long scarf.

Diagonal Spiral Rib Stitch

Diagonal Spiral Rib Stitch

This one has the movement of a cable without actually requiring you to knit cables.

The sloping ribs appear to spiral across the fabric, producing a thick reversible texture that would look fabulous in a chunky winter scarf or blanket.

Rib and Welt Stitch

Rib and Welt Stitch

This geometric knit-and-purl pattern creates travelling bands through the fabric.

It has enough going on to make a solid yarn interesting but doesn’t require colour changes, yarn overs or a cable needle — always welcome when you want impressive results without wrestling with six different techniques at once.

Reversible Stitches With a Little More Drama

Brioche Stitch

Brioche Stitch Tutorial

Brioche creates the kind of soft, pillowy knitting that looks almost inflated.

The resulting ribbed fabric is reversible and beautifully stretchy, which makes it an obvious candidate for scarves and cowls. It takes a little concentration while you’re learning, but once the rhythm clicks it becomes wonderfully addictive.

Fisherman’s Rib in the Round

Fisherman’s Rib in the Round

If you love Fisherman’s rib and want to use it for cowls or other seamless projects, this tutorial explains how to work the technique in the round.

The finished fabric has that characteristic deep, squishy ribbing on both sides.

One-Row Reversible Rib-Look Stitch

Easy One-Row Reversible Knitting Stitch

This stitch is particularly interesting because it looks like ribbing but behaves quite differently.

The vertical columns lie flatter and don’t have the same accordion-like stretch as conventional ribbing. Even better, it’s a one-row repeat, which is exactly the sort of pattern I want when I’m knitting after dinner and my brain has officially clocked off.

Ribbed Garter Stitch

Ribbed Garter Stitch

Here’s another gloriously straightforward one-row reversible knitting pattern.

It combines vertical definition with the dependable flatness of garter-based texture, making it useful for cushions, blankets, scarves, placemats and other projects where curling edges would be annoying.

Reversible Colour and Slip-Stitch Knitting

Reversible Stripes

Reversible Stripes Tutorial

Now we’re getting fancy.

Reversible Stripes uses slip stitches and two colours to create completely different-looking textures on opposite sides. One surface has neat horizontal pinstripes while the other develops deeper vertical ridges.

This is exactly what I mean when I say a stitch doesn’t have to look identical on both sides to be beautifully reversible.

Verse + Reverse Double Knitting

Verse + Reverse Scarf

Double knitting opens up a whole new world of reversible fabric.

This scarf uses two colours to create a double-layered stockinette fabric, giving you a beautifully finished surface on both sides. It looks clever because, well, it is clever — but it’s also one of those techniques that makes far more sense once the yarn is actually in your hands.

Reversible Rivulet Cable

Reversible Rivulet Scarf

Cabled scarves are gorgeous until they twist and reveal that rather less exciting reverse side.

This pattern solves the problem by working cables over ribbing so the cable effect remains attractive on both sides. If you want a reversible knitting project that looks genuinely impressive, this is a beauty.

More Reversible Knitting Techniques Worth Trying

Double Stockinette Stitch

Double Stockinette Stitch Tutorial

Ordinary stockinette gives us smooth V-shaped stitches on one side and purl bumps on the other.

Double stockinette gives you that lovely smooth stockinette appearance on both sides. The result is thicker than standard stockinette, which makes it especially nice for scarves and cosy accessories.

Double Knitting

Double Knitting Tutorial

Double knitting creates two layers of fabric at once, traditionally with stockinette appearing on both external surfaces.

Add two colours and you can create motifs where the colours reverse from one side to the other. It’s a brilliant technique for scarves, potholders, blankets and graphic knitting patterns.

Twigg Stitch

Introduction to Twigg Stitch

Twigg stitch is a reversible colour-knitting technique developed by Vicki Twigg.

It produces two-sided fabric with enormous possibilities for colour and texture and feels like a fascinating meeting point between double knitting and brioche-style techniques.

Definitely one for the “I’ve knitted all the easy things, give me something interesting” pile.

Reversible Cable Knitting

Reversible Cable Knitting Tutorial

Yes, cables really can be reversible.

One clever method is to cable ribbed stitches instead of ordinary stockinette stitches, allowing the crossing texture to remain attractive from either side. This is especially useful for scarves, collars and wraps where traditional cables tend to reveal a very obvious back.

Seeded Rib Headband

Seeded Rib Headband

Seeded rib combines vertical ribbing with little textured interruptions, creating a reversible stitch that feels more decorative than standard rib.

This simple headband project is a nice way to practise the stitch before committing to something enormous.

Garter Rib

Garter Rib Square

Garter rib alternates garter and stockinette-style columns to form raised vertical texture.

The pattern is reversible and easy enough for relatively new knitters, while still producing enough surface interest for blankets, washcloths and scarves.

Garter Stitch Worked in Purl

Garter Stitch Pattern

Here’s another reminder that garter stitch doesn’t have to mean knitting every row.

This version is worked by purling throughout and produces the same sort of soft, ridged and reversible fabric. It can be a surprisingly useful exercise for becoming more confident with purl stitches.

Which Reversible Knitting Stitches Look Exactly the Same on Both Sides?

There are really two types of reversible knitting patterns.

The first type is truly reversible, where the front and back are identical or virtually identical. Examples include:

• Garter stitch
• Seed stitch
• Double moss stitch
• 1×1 rib
• Diagonal rib
• Many reversible chevron stitches
• Fisherman’s rib
• Double stockinette

The second type creates two different but equally attractive sides.

Reversible Stripes is a great example. The textures on the front and back are different, but neither one looks unfinished.

For scarves and blankets, I’m perfectly happy with either.

The important thing is that nobody can point at it from across the room and announce, “You’ve got the wrong side showing.”

Best Reversible Knitting Stitches for Scarves

Scarves are probably the number-one reason to learn reversible knitting.

They twist around your neck, flop over shoulders and are almost impossible to keep facing one particular direction.

For an easy scarf, I’d choose:

• Garter stitch
• Seed stitch
• Mistake or broken rib
• Fisherman’s rib
• Diagonal rib
• Cartridge Belt Rib

For something more adventurous, try reversible cables, brioche, double knitting or Reversible Stripes.

Best Reversible Knitting Stitches for Blankets

Blankets are another place where two good-looking sides really earn their keep.

For baby blankets and easy throws, try seed stitch, double moss, broken rib or garter stitch.

For a more decorative blanket, geometric patterns such as moss diamonds, Rib and Welt, diagonal ribs and reversible chevrons give you plenty of texture while keeping the reverse presentable.

And if you’re choosing between seed stitch and moss stitch and have forgotten which is which — because frankly I have had to check more than once — have another look at CraftGossip’s Seed Stitch vs Moss Stitch guide.

Do Reversible Knitting Stitches Curl?

Many reversible knitting stitches naturally resist curling because knit and purl stitches are balanced across the fabric.

Garter, seed, moss and many rib patterns are excellent examples.

That doesn’t mean every stitch described as reversible will automatically lie completely flat, though. Yarn fibre, gauge and the particular stitch repeat all affect the finished fabric.

If you’re planning a large scarf or blanket, knit a reasonably generous swatch first rather than one of those tiny postage-stamp swatches we all pretend is enough.

It’s much better to discover a curling problem after 30 stitches than after 300.

Why Reversible Knitting Is Worth Learning

Once you start deliberately looking for knitting stitches that look good on both sides, you realise how useful they are.

Use them for:

• Scarves
• Shawls
• Wraps
• Cowls
• Baby blankets
• Afghans
• Throws
• Dishcloths
• Washcloths
• Table runners
• Cushion covers
• Headbands
• Blanket borders

They are also brilliant stash-busting stitches because textured knitting can completely transform otherwise ordinary yarn.

And perhaps best of all, reversible knitting removes one small piece of crafting fussiness from life.

The scarf can twist.

The blanket can land upside down.

The teenager can pull it off the sofa, use it, abandon it in a heap and somehow fail to fold it despite apparently possessing perfectly functional arms.

Both sides still look good.

I call that a knitting win.