Learn how to knit moss stitch with our video tutorial
Moss stitch is a great stitch pattern for both beginners and experienced knitters. It is an easy stitch to learn, as it only involves two basic knitting techniques: knit and purl.
Moss stitch creates a really lovely texture for your knitting projects. It’s stylish, understated and works fabulously in any thickness of yarn. Double-sided, it’s created using a mixture of knits and purls to create a chequerboard effect, alternating where stitches are placed on each row. It adds a lovely texture to so many projects, including knitted jumpers and cardigans.
This stitch pattern looks great in a variety of yarn types, including wool, cotton, and acrylic. And it is a great choice for reversible items, as it looks the same on both sides of the fabric – this makes it perfect for items like scarves and blankets, where both sides will be visible.
Across the pond, you’ll hear this technique referred to as either ‘British moss stitch’ or ‘seed stitch’ – so-called owing to its intricate bumps knitted right into the fabric, which have the appearance of small grains. In actuality, these are both identical to moss stitch.
As with garter stitch, moss stitch doesn’t have a tendency to curl at the edges. So, you’ll often find it used in knitting patterns as a trim on bigger pieces of knitting, like cardigans, or as part of multi-textured blankets and throws.
Moss stitch is a must-try stitch pattern for any knitter. It is easy to learn, versatile, and adds beautiful texture to any project. So, grab your knitting needles and give moss stitch a try!
What you need to knit moss stitch
Moss stitch works in any thickness of yarn paired up with its recommended needle size. You can check the size of needle needed to knit your ball of yarn with, by checking the label – it will tell you everything you need to know.
But if you’re opting to use moss stitch as a border on a bigger piece, try going down a needle size to the rest of the project, that will keep your trim neat and tidy.
Moss stitch step-by-step guide
Cast on your chosen number of stitches. While repetitive (and relatively mindless once you get going), moss stitch is worked slightly differently depending on whether you’ve got an even or an odd number of stitches, so make sure to take care.
For an odd number
Every row: *Knit 1, purl 1, repeat from * to last stitch, Knit 1.
…and that’s it, really! Repeat this row until your work gets to the desired length, and then you can either cast off or change to a different stitch later.
For an even number
Row 1: (Knit 1, purl 1) to end.
Row 2: (Purl 1, knit 1) to end.
So, while with an even number of stitches, there’s a tiny bit more to remember (ie, ‘Am I starting this row with a knit or a purl’, you can read your knitting to tell you the answer.
If the first stitch on your left-hand needle has small horizontal bump directly beneath it (and therefore was a knit on a previous row), you start with a knit.
If in fact, it’s not a small bump but a flatter V-shape beneath your first stitch, you instead will start with a knit stitch.
How knit and purl stitches work
Nearly everything you will ever do on any knitting pattern, is comprised of knit (k) and purl stitches (p). Manipulating their placement in such a way that they are alternated, creates moss stitch – but line them up one above the other and you’ll soon find that k1 p1 every row on an even number of stitches creates a rib stitch instead.
Every other technique you’ll ever learn is just a case of adding colours, extra wraps of yarn around your needles or moving stitches around to create cable stitches.
So pat yourself on the back – even if you’re just starting out – you know nearly everything there is to know about this relaxing and meditative craft already.
Happy stitching!
Once you've mastered the basics, check out our favourite knitting projects for beginners – you'll be making beautiful pieces in no time!
Do you love knitting? Share your creations with us by tagging @primamag in your pictures on Instagram!
You Might Also Like
