Hi All,
Looking for resources to teach a pre-teen left hander how to knit and crochet.
My opinion is to teach them right handed, but then I’m righthanded myself so that only makes sense to me.
Anyone???
Comments
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.
I’m not sure if it is the same for knitting but as for crochet try youtube. tjw1963 has great left handed videos for learning to crochet. I myself also have left handed videos on new crochet stitches. I am not left handed but only offer the left handed versions through the help of video mirroring. My suggestion would be to look on YouTube and if you don’t see anything you like there then you can always ask a good knitting friend that may have a right handed video to make a left handed version. All it takes is one click on my windows movie maker live to do this. If you can’t find anyone to help shoot me an email and I can explain it in better detail.
I am left handed – and learned to knit righty. My motion is not as smooth as right-handed people, but I am so glad I learn righty because it makes it so much easier to learn new stitches without needing special instructions.
Lefties are used to having to adapt and adjust, I’d try right handed knitting first!
I am left handed and there are a number of sites that will help how to teach knitting to someone who is left handed. People who are left handed are more apt to pick when knitting or to do the Continental method of knitting rather than throwing or the English method.
I taught myself by mirroring the continental (picking) method of knitting. Same with crocheting–but I’m sure there are online resources for it.
Hi! I’m a lefty who taught myself to knit left handed with a book, but got frustrated trying to follow knit patterns properly and learn new stitches, so I re-taught myself to knit right-handed. I would definitely try to teach them to knit right-handed, but holding the yarn continental.
I taught myself knitting, first right handed English then Continental (my preferred method). Then I learned to “Knit Back Backwards”, which really means knit left handed, throwing. I haven’t done much purling left handed yet. I’ve also yet to try, but do want to master, left handed picking.
Sorry for the long preamble, but my advice is to learn them all yourself, so you can teach anyone.
oh I forgot to mention my youtube channel is texasyarnlover. Thanks. And don’t forget to shoot me an email or pm me on YouTube if you need more help.
If the stitches move in the opposite direction, from the right-hand needle to the left-hand needle, the shaping for things like cardigan fronts and buttonholes will have to be reversed from what’s in the pattern. I taught my left-handed daughter to knit continental, and she did fine.
I am left handed. A friend of mine who is right handed teach me crochet and it was very hard to me to understand in which way shoul I yard or how to do the basis stiches.
Only when I found some video tutorials for left handed I understood the stiches.
I would like to highly recommend a youtube user “tjw1963” for learning both right AND lefthanded crochet. Her website info is always listed in the description boxes and she always has a video and written pattern so you can follow along and get a visual as well.
I am teaching some kids to crochet and some are lefties, I have decided that it is simpler for them to go with ther left hand, it was a bit difficult for me to teach them …but I have found that it is simpler to do with them some stitches (just to show them the movments) together when they are facing me.
Actualy it was funny that suddenly the teacher is crocheting slower…. It was good for their confidence that I am having some trubles to….
Hope this help
I’m left handed and learned how to crochet right handed – no problems here!
I am an ambidextrous lefty in all things, using both hands almost equally, but favoring the left for writing. I just realized that I knit right handed but crochet left handed. I knit English style and throw the yarn and the comment above about picking up new stitches and following tutorials is correct, it is easier when you knit right handed. I am trying to follow a tute for crocheted slippers, which is when I realized I crochet lefty and it isn’t easy to follow her backwards. If your student can learn righty, go for it!
I’m a lefty and thought i would have to learn backwards,much like my crochet….but in watching a video i learned the standard way, which to me is not left or right handed since both sides of the brain & both hands are involved… just keep practicing and the muscle memory will come!!
I’m a leftie, I learnt to knit as a child then again as an adult and to crochet as an adult. I learnt both right handed and it is really easy – it makes more sense to me. It would be really difficult for your student to learn new stitches and techniques from books/classes/the internet if you teach her left handed. Go right handed is what I say!
As handcraft teacher I recommend teaching the right hand way; as it was said before, both hands/ sides of the brain are involved with knitting anyway, instructions are easier to follow and the left hand will be fantastic with keeping the tension if you teach the continental way of knitting!
Like learning an instrument or bike riding, the muscles will soon know what to do.
By the way, everything you do with the hands has far more influence on everything else they learn as we usually assume, music and handcraft are especially good for mathematics!
The person learning the craft should have the choice of which hand to learn with. I am a lefty and crochet left-handed because I was taught by my left-handed mother. There are a few things I do right-handed because there were no left-handed resources. But with crafts, I am most comfortable doing things left-handed. Forcing someone to learn with their “off” hand could cause them to lose interest. Some lefties find doing things right-handed extremely difficult.
A righty can teach a lefty to knit/crochet by sitting IN FRONT of the student and have the student follow your actions. Don’t use words like “use your left hand here or do this with your right hand” because it is opposite for the student. Make the lessons completely visual with motions. For example: wiggle the fingers of the hand you are talking about and say “use this hand for…” Lefties are very talented crafters and generally adapt easily.
Even though I am a lefty, I have had very little trouble following instructions in crochet patterns. I just have to remember to do the opposite where it matters which is seldom.
My sister got taught by my mom (who is right handed) using the book:
Learn to Crochet in Just One Day (left -handed version) by Jean Leinhauser
My sister was about 8 or 9 when she was taught.
Hope this helps!
–Roxy
Utilize YouTube.com it’s great! Most of the time the basic stitches for crochet and knit are available for left/right handed people.
When I was learning how to use a mouse (20+ years ago) the instructor offered to set me up using my left hand but I knew it would be confusing to always have to reverse instructions – – similar to my unsuccessful knitting adventures.
At age 10, my (right handed) twin sister tried to teach me (the lefty twin) but now, 40+ years later, I realize it’s time to enjoy the craft and unlearn bad habits and start over from a right handed perspective.