What is duplicate stitching?

Duplicate stitching is a technique that is essentially embroidering over your knitting. While you could add extra colors with any type of embroidery stitch, duplicate stitching (as the name implies) 'duplicates' the shape of the existing knit stitches so that it looks as if that extra color was knit right in. 

When to use it

Duplicate stitching is great when you need to add an extra color to a colorwork chart, but either don't want the hassle of carrying that extra color the whole time, or if the chart only needs a few stitches in that extra color. Think: adding one black dot for the eye of a small animal in a chart (but there's no other black). 

Doodle patterns that use this technique

This technique is a tip that is included in all our Doodle Full Patterns, especially for knitters who are not ready for 3+ colors per row (or just don't feel like doing it). It's great for Collections that have more complex charts, or any time you want to just add a little more detail to a motif. 

INSTRUCTIONS

To watch my quick video reel, see How to Duplicate Stitch.

MATERIALS

Your knitting project (with completed charts) + a tapestry needle and a length of yarn in the color you want to duplicate stitch with.

SET UP

Get yourself situated. Figure out where you want to add the new stitches, and possibly even mark them with stitch markers (or washable marker) to keep yourself organized. 

Thread your yarn onto your tapestry needle. The yarn should be long enough to create all your new stitches, but not so long that it is difficult to work with.

For this example, we are using the Snowman chart from the 2024 Winter Mini Set. 

Due to the limited use of the following stitches/colors, I would probably use a Duplicate Stitch for:

• The orange of the nose
• The red of the holly berry on the hat

If you are still new to working 3-colors at a time, you may also want to duplicate stitch:

• The black eyes of the snowman
• The green holly leaf on the hat (light grey on this chart)

MAKING THE DUPLICATE STITCH 

Step 1: Locate the first stitch you want to work. Insert the tapestry needle into the back of the work, at the bottom point of the V of your first stitch. Pull the needle through, leaving just enough yarn behind the work so that you can secure that end later.

Step 2: Next, slide your needle behind both legs of the V directly above your first stitch, from right to left. Once the yarn is pulled tight, this will cover the right leg of the V of your first stitch.

Step 3: Last, take your needle and go back down through the bottom of the V of your stitch, in the same place you started (going from front to back this time). Once the yarn is pulled tight, this will cover the left left of the V of your first stitch.

Repeat these steps for as many stitches as you want to duplicate stitch over. When you're finished, take a second to check that the tension of your new stitches is close to the tension of your knitting. Once you're happy with how it looks, weave in your ends as you normally would. 

Here are some finished examples of duplicate stitches from the 2024 Winter Mini Set

BONUS TIPS:

It will be much easier to do duplicate stitching before you seam if you're working on a project like an infinity cowl, where all the wrong-side of the work is hidden away. You want to be able to get at the back of your work.

Make sure to use a yarn that is at least as thick as the yarn you used for knitting, to make sure that your duplicate stitches properly cover the stitches underneath.

If you are doing multiple placements of duplicate stitch across a row/round, you don't want to leave your duplicate stitch floats longer than your colorwork floats, so make sure to weave in or secure your yarn in some way as you move along. 

Happy Doodling!

 

Blog co-written by Jamie Lomax and Grey Lundy. Yarn used is from Yarnaceous Fibers and Fangirl Fibers. The pattern is our 2024 Winter Mini Set.