Posted on 6-12-2021 by Janita van Rijnsbergen
Yarnplaza has a special treat for you this festive month. We are going to teach you how to knit linen stitch! This stitch is perfect for knitting gorgeous placemats or a table runner for your dining table in the run-up to Christmas. Or knit stylish totes to pop under the tree for a loved one. Read on for the free pattern and in-depth video tutorial, then have a go at linen stitch yourself!
All about linen stitch
Linen stitch is simple to knit, but produces very cool results. And the name hasn’t just been plucked out of thin air. Rather, the knitted fabric looks a lot like woven linen. This stitch creates a sturdy, fairly dense fabric that is ideal for handmade bags and home accessories, such as table runners, placemats, and potholders. So, it’s a great stitch for all your Christmas makes! And it’s not just ideal for home accessories, but fashion ones too. Knit a scarf or cowl in linen stitch or use it for the edging on a sweater or cardigan. The big advantage of linen stitch is that it does not curl, so your borders will lie nice and flat. Linen stitch looks wonderful worked in just one color, but it really comes into its own when you use two or three colors.
How to knit linen stitch
For linen stitch in the round, you cast on an even number of stitches. When knitting flat, cast on an odd number of stitches. You don’t knit every stitch in each row, but instead, you alternate working one stitch and slipping the next unworked. This naturally reduces the elasticity of your fabric, so the results are less stretchy and more compact. If you tend to knit quite tightly, we recommend using larger needles than you usually would with whichever yarn you plan to use.
Free knitting pattern – Linen Stitch
Now that you know what linen stitch is and what you can make with it, let’s cast on. We will show you how to knit three different swatches, in one, two, and three colors. For an extra helping hand, check out our video tutorial.
Materials needed for the swatches:
- 1 ball Yarn and Colors Joy in colors 015 Mustard, 040 Pink Sand, and 101 Rosé
- Knitting needles 4.5 mm
Abbreviations used
k knit
p purl
rep repeat
sl slip (purlwise throughout)
st(s) stitch(es)
wyif with yarn in front
wyib with yarn in back
For the swatches in the photos, we cast on 51 sts and worked a total of 78 rows.
Begin: Cast on 51 sts with 4.5 mm knitting needles.
Row 1: K1, *sl 1 wyif, k1**. Rep *-**.
Row 2: P2, *sl 1 wyib, p1**. Rep *-**, end with p1.
Rep rows 1 and 2 until you reach desired length.
With 1 color: Follow instructions as given above.
With 2 colors: Knit rows 1 and 2 in color A, then knit rows 1 and 2 in color B. Continue alternating colors every 2 rows. Carry yarn up the side.
With 3 colors: Change color every row. Carry yarn up the side.
Video tutorial – Knit Linen Stitch
Happy knitting!
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