Garter Stitch in the Round
About this stitch
In rounds: alternate one knit round and one purl round. Same dense, ridged face as flat garter, just slower.
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.
Further reading A primer on swatching Basic Stitches for accurate gauge.
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
•
purl on RS, knit on WS
Row-by-row written instructions
- Cast on a multiple of 2 stitches (any number works for stockinette and garter).
- Row 1 (RS): See description.
- Row 2 (WS): See description.
- 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.
Editor's pick Why every knitter should keep a swatch journal.
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.