Linen Stitch

Linen stitch, also called Woven stitch, makes a dense, firm fabric with little give or stretch. While it has a tiny bit of drape when done at a reasonable gauge, it can easily become stiff as a board if knit tightly.

This firmness makes it a good choice for home decore type projects like pillow covers or for items needing a stiffer fabric such as tote bags.

My current linen stitch project is a throw for my cats. I hope that the texture of this stitch will allow it to stand up to the occasional kneading from a cat.

Offset rows of alternating knit stitches and stitches slipped with the yarn in front create a mesh of stitches that do  more resemble a woven rather than knitted fabric in its characteristics.

The slipped stitches produce a texture that lends itself well to using two or more colors. Knit two rows in each color, starting with a right side row.

Here's the stitch as I'm doing it.

Start with an odd number of stitches.

Row 1 (RS) K1 *slip1wyif, knit1, repeat from *, ending with a K1

Row 2 (WS) Purl

Row 3 K1 *knit1, slip1wyif, repeat from * until two stitches from end, K2.

Row 4 Purl

Note that Row 1 starts and ends with K1 while Row 3 starts and ends with a K2.  This offsets the stitches in Row 3 from those in Row 1.

Comments

[Karen B.]

It sort of looks like a combination of weaving and crochet. Very interesting texture.

[ashpags]

That is a neat stitch! I am impressed that you are knitting for you cats - I hope they don't destroy it! =)

[Dena Shunra]

I've been having a ball with linen stitch lately. I love what it does with cottons, and have played with color gradations (or are they gradiants?) in hats and things.

I find that most of my work in linen stitch has been in the round - wrist warmers, hats, cuffs, etc.

It is a stitch pattern with *such* fascinating applications!

[Bonne Marie]

Wow! That looks gorgeous!

Linen stitch is one of those simply beautiful stitches I love in knitting...