What is grafting?

Grafting (previously known as Kitchener Stitch) is a method used to 'sew' together two rows of live stitches, end to end, with an invisible seam. The process replicates the path the yarn would take during regular knitting, except you use a tapestry needle to create the grafted row.

 

When to use it

Common places you might see grafting used in patterns is to close the toe of a sock, or sewing up the shoulder seam of a bottom-up sweater. Any time you have two sets of live stitches that you would like to join together in a way that looks as if it was all knit as one piece, grafting will be the best technique.

 

Doodle patterns that use this technique

All Doodle Infinity Cowls use grafting to seam the two ends of the cowl together (the cast-on edge and the 'end' edge of the project). We also use this technique to close up our Base Doodle Reversible Cowl, and for parts of our Base Doodle Socks.

 

Instructions

Materials: two sets of live stitches on knitting needles + a tapestry needle and a nice, long tail of working yarn from your project (approx. 3x the width of the project)

Step 1: get yourself situated. Hold the two needles of the two sets of live stitches parallel to each other, with the wrong sides facing each other. Thread your needle with the yarn tail.

Note: each needle should have an equal number of stitches for this technique

Step 2: setting up the first stitches:

Insert the tapestry needle as if to purl into the first stitch on the front needle, pull the yarn through, and leave the stitch on the needle.

Insert the needle as if to knit into the first stitch on the back needle, pull the yarn through, and leave the stitch on the needle.

Step 3: the actual grafting:

Front Needle: Insert the needle as if to knit, pull the yarn through, and slip the stitch off the needle.

Front Needle: Insert the needle as if to purl, leave the stitch on the needle.

Back Needle: Insert the needle as if to purl, pull the yarn through, and slip the stich off the needle.

Back Needle: Insert the needle as if to knit, leave the stitch on the needle.

Repeat until all stitches have been grafted.

Tip 1: focus on the bolded words and repeat it like a chant, "Front, knit, off. Front, purl, on. Back, purl, off. Back, knit, on". Once you memorize this, you'll never need to read a tutorial again!

Tip 2: keep an eye on your tension. Don't pull the grafted stitches too tight, and don't leave them too loose, or it won't be 'invisible'. I prefer to do the repeat a few times loosely and then go back and manually adjust my tension. Find a way that works best for you.

 

Step 4: After grafting all stitches, weave in the yarn end and secure it.

Happy Doodling!

 

Blog co-written by Jamie Lomax and Grey Lundy