Knit the Cluster Stitch

Decorative stitches are fun to add to any project, but can be especially lovely on knitted baby items, like blankets and garments. In this video, Corrina Ferguson demonstrates how to work a cluster stitch.

This stitch pattern is worked over a multiple of eight plus five stitches. The cluster stitches are offset on a background of Stockinette stitch (knit on Right Side/purl on Wrong Side). Corrina mentions that due to the wrapped stitches worked throughout the fabric, the gauge of the fabric is going to be different than traditional Stockinette stitch. If substituting this stitch pattern, be sure to make a gauge swatch.

To create the cluster stitch, Corrina slips three stitches purlwise to a cable needle. She notes that a spare double-pointed needle will also work for this specialty stitch. Once the stitches are on the cable needle, the yarn is wrapped around them 6 times in a counterclockwise fashion. The yarn is at the back of the work and the stitches can be knit off the cable needle.

CLUSTER STITCH

This stitch pattern is worked over a multiple of 8 plus 5 stitches as follows:

Row 1 (RS): Knit all stitches.
Row 2 (WS): Purl all stitches.
Row 3: *K5, CS; rep from * to last 5 stitches, k5.
Row 4: Purl all stitches.
Row 5: Knit all stitches.
Row 6: Purl all stitches.
Row 7: *K1, CS, k4; rep from * to last 5 stitches, k1, CS, k1.
Row 8: Purl all stitches.

Rep Rows 1 – 8 for pattern.

SPECIAL ABBREVIATIONS

CS – cluster stitch: slip 3 stitches purlwise onto cable needle, wrap yarn around sts 6 times counterclockwise, then k3 from cable needle.

ABBREVIATIONS

k: knit
rep: repeat
RS: Right Side
WS: Wrong Side