How to Knit the Linen Stitch

Linen stitch is created using slipped stitches along with knits and purls. Unlike many other knitted fabrics, the linen stitch fabric creates a firm fabric that doesn’t curl. This feature makes it a great choice for items like scarves and wraps. In this video, Jen Lucas explains how to knit the linen stitch both flat and in the round.

LINEN STITCH IN ROWS

A knitting pattern will tell you how many stitches are needed to work the linen stitch. In the swatch in the video, Jen works the linen stitch over an even number of stitches when working back and forth in rows.

– Row 1 (Right Side): *Knit 1, slip 1 purlwise with yarn in front; repeat from * to end.
– Row 2 (Wrong Side): *Purl 1, slip 1 purlwise with yarn in back; repeat from * to end.

Repeat these two rows to create linen stitch over an even number of stitches.

LINEN STITCH IN THE ROUND

When working in the round, the Right Side of the work is always facing out, changing the way that linen stitch is created. Jen prefers to work linen stitch in the round over an odd number of stitches, because the join at the beginning of the round looks cleaner when an odd number of stitches are used. She demonstrates linen stitch in the round over an odd number of stitches as follows:

– Round 1: *Knit 1, slip 1 purlwise with yarn in front; repeat form * to last stitch, knit 1.
– Round 2: *Slip 1 purlwise with yarn in front, knit 1; repeat from * to last stitch, slip 1 purlwise with yarn in front.

Repeat these two rounds to create linen stitch over an odd number of stitches.

Whether worked flat or in the round, linen stitch is an easy and interesting stitch pattern to work into a wide variety of projects.