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...

[ZenHuggs]

I'm making a lovely scarf right now in linen stitch. If you actually do an even number of stitches, you end up wrapping the yarn around the salvedge on both edges, and it makes a lovely edging.