Kitchener Stitch Tutorial: A Seamless Finish for Your Knitting

The Kitchener stitch, also known as grafting, seamlessly joins two live sets of stitches in knitting, meaning two sets of stitches still on the needles.

It creates an invisible, stretchy bind-off perfect for finishing hats, joining shoulders, or seaming up socks. While it is often used on stockinette fabric, you can also use it on other stitches, such as ribbing and garter.

A Bit of History

Feel free to skip over this history lesson, but if you are curious about where the Kitchener Stitch originated, read on.

Though in use earlier, this stitch was named after the British Secretary of War, Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, who popularized it during World War I to encourage British and American women to provide socks and other clothing for their soldiers.

Before the Kitchener stitch, regular sock patterns of the time created a seam that irritated toes. With the endless marching and wet trenches, rough knitted seams added to the soldier's misery

The Secretary of War used his position to distribute a sock pattern that used a seamless graft we use today, so the name stuck.

The Knit Kitchener Stitch

What You Will Need

• Your knitting project with live stitches on needles
• Tapestry needle
• Yarn matching your project (same weight and color)

Step-by-Step Guide

For this tutorial, Kitchener Stitch is worked in two sample Stockinette fabrics, using a different color of the same yarn used to make the swatches.

Preparation

Ensure you have the same number of stitches on both needles.

Cut your yarn, leaving a tail at least three times the width of the stitches on the needle, plus six inches to weave in the ends.

If it is too long, it will just get in your way.

Thread your tapestry needle.

Positioning

If you are right-handed, point the needles to the right; if you are left-handed, point the needles to the left. I am right-handed, so these instructions are for right-handed knitters.

Hold your needles parallel with the wrong sides of the fabric facing together and the right side of your knitting facing you.
The working yarn should be attached to the stitch furthest to the right on the back needle.

Set Up Steps

1. Insert your tapestry needle purlwise into the first stitch on the front needle, leaving the stitch on the needle.
2. Insert your tapestry needle knitwise into the first stitch on the back needle, leaving the stitch on the needle.

Instructions

• Step 1: Insert your tapestry needle into the first stitch on the front needle as if to knit. Slip this stitch off the needle.
• Step 2: Now, insert the tapestry needle into the second stitch on the front needle as if to purl and leave it on the knitting needle. Tug a little on the yarn to pull up the slack.
• Step 3: Insert your tapestry needle into the first stitch on the back needle as if to purl and slip the stitch off of the needle.
• Step 4: Insert the tapestry needle into the second stitch on the back needle as if to knit and leave the stitch on the needle. Pull your yarn tight.
• Repeat steps one through 4, tugging a little to keep the yarn tight and secure.

Finishing

Work across until you have two stitches left on the needles.  

• Insert the tapestry needle into the first stitch on the front needle, knitwise. Remove the stitch from the needle.
• Insert the tapestry needle into the first stitch on the back needle, purlwise. Remove the stitch from the needle.

Once all stitches are worked, weave in the yarn tail securely.

Tips for Success

• Practice makes perfect! Try practicing on a swatch before tackling a big project.
• Keep your tension even throughout the Kitchener stitch for a smooth, invisible join. If you pull the yarn too tightly, you see some puckering. If you leave it too loose, there will be gaps. Tensioning this stitch does take a bit of practice, so knit a couple of small swatches and practice the Kitchener stitch before you use it to finish off socks or the shoulders of a sweater.
• Use a contrasting yarn for practice to see each step clearly.
• Until you feel comfortable with the Kitchener Stitch, keep your attention because it is easy to miss a stitch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Kitchener Stitch:  Pin for Future Reference

Last Words

It might seem difficult initially, but with some practice, the Kitchener stitch is straightforward. It simultaneously creates a smooth, invisible seam and a stretchy bind-off. To make it easier, remember the mantra Front knit off, Front purl on, Back purl off, Back knit on, Repeat to use after the initial setup.

Happy Knitting

Disclosure:   This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase from one of these links I will get a small  commission.

Hi, there, I'm Janice, the voice behind this website and avid knitter and crochet enthusiast. I want to share my passion with you and help you learn how to knit or crochet, smarter.

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