Kitchener Stitch
The Kitchener Stitch can be used to sew two knitted edges together in different ways without the seam being very visible. Either two cast off knit edges or two edges whose stitches are still on the needle and have not yet been bound off are suitable for this purpose. It is possible to join both knit and purl stitches in this way.
I'll show you below how to sew a rib pattern with bound off edges together, as well as two stockinette stitch sides that have not yet been bound off.
When working, be sure not to tighten your yarn when going around the stitches, to get a seam that is as invisible as possible. You are trying to imitate stitches that are supposed to be similar in tension to the others.
Abbreviations
For the following instructions, some abbreviations are used:
k
p
st
sts
:
:
:
knit
purl
stich
stitches
Seaming Together Two Bound Off Edges
- Selvedge Stitch -
Lay both parts in front of each other, the right side is facing up and the working yarn is at the bottom part.
Go through the first selvedge st at the bottom ...
... around the V of the selvedge st of the top ...
... and back through the V of the bottom selvedge st we just came out of.
Seaming Together Two Bound Off Edges
- Purl Stitches -
Use the p sts of the bottom, that the needle is marking in the photo.
Go through the p st from the bottom towards the top.
Use the p sts of the top part, that the needle is marking in the photo.
Coming from the bottom piece continue to go through the marked p st at the top part.
Thread through. Now coming from the top go through the next p st of the top part and continue to thread through the p st of the bottom part we just came out of.
Thread through.
Again coming from the bottom, go through the next p st of the bottom part and through the p st of the top part we just came out of.
Repeat this process alternating step 3 & 4 until you've reached the end of the p sts.
Seaming Together Two Bound Off Edges
- Knit Stitches -
Coming from the wrong side, go through the first V of the k st.
Thread through.
Now go around the V of the k st above ...
... and back down through the V of the k st we just came out of and through the V of the k st next to it.
Repeat steps 2 & 3 alternating until you've reached the end of the k sts.
Seaming Two Knit Stitches
Place both parts opposite each other, the right side is facing up.
The part with your working yarn is at the bottom.
Coming from the bottom, go into the first k st on the knitting needle.
Slip the st off the knitting needle and thread through.
Slightly lift the upper knitting needle and continue to go through its first st, coming from the wrong side.
Lift the st off the knitting needle and thread through.
Don't pull your yarn too tight.
Go back through the bottom k st we just came out of and continue to go through the one next to it.
Slip this st off the knitting needle and thread through.
Again gor through the top k st we just came out of ...
... and continue through the st next to it on the top knitting needle. Slip this st off the knitting needle and thread through.
Repeat the process at the bottom:
go through the k st below from which we came & another one next to it. Lift that st off the knitting needle and thread through.
Then repeat the process at the top:
go through the k st above from which we previously came from & another st next to it. Lift that st off the knitting needle and thread through.
Alternate those two steps until you reach the last st.
Go through the bottom last st.
And continue with the top last st we just came out of.
And one laste time through the bottom last st from which we came.
Now fasten the end and cut the yarn.