Garter Stitch
About this stitch
Knit every row when worked flat; alternate knit and purl rounds when worked in the round. Creates parallel ridges. Lies flat, fully reversible, and adds elasticity in the row direction.
A reliable ground stitch for sweaters, blankets, scarves, and the body of any project where the focus is on yarn or shape rather than stitch pattern.
Stitch chart
Read RS rows right-to-left, WS rows left-to-right. The bottom-right cell is row 1, stitch 1.
knit on RS, purl on WS
Row-by-row written instructions
- Cast on a multiple of 2 stitches (any number works for stockinette and garter).
- Row 1 (RS): Knit every stitch.
- Row 2 (WS): Knit every stitch.
- Repeat Rows 1–2 for pattern.
Abbreviations used
- k knit
- p purl
- sl slip purlwise
- wyif with yarn in front
- wyib with yarn in back
Knitter's tips
- Block your swatch before measuring final gauge — wet-blocking changes most fabrics by 5–10%.
- Slip the first stitch of every row purlwise with yarn in front for a tidy chain edge.
Recommended materials
This stitch is most flattering in Worsted-weight yarn on 7 (4.5 mm) needles, at a working gauge near 20 stitches and 40 rows over four inches in stockinette. Open the yarn weight reference or the needle conversion chart for substitutions.