All About the Linen Stitch
A simple stitch with a really cool result. The name of this knitting stitch isn’t just made up. That’s because the result of this stitch closely resembles woven linen. It creates a sturdy and dense knit, which is ideal for items like bags and Home Accessories such as table runners, placemats, and pot holders. That comes in handy just in time for Christmas! You can also use the linen stitch to knit a scarf or a border on a garment. The big advantage of the linen stitch is that it doesn’t curl. You can knit the linen stitch in a single color, but if you choose two or three colors, the beautiful texture of the linen stitch really comes into its own.
How to Knit the Linen Stitch
For the linen stitch, always cast on an even number of stitches (plus one extra stitch when knitting flat). Not every stitch is knitted; you bind off some of the stitches. This prevents the fabric from stretching much and results in a compact fabric. Blocking is not necessary. If you knit tightly, it’s a good idea to use a larger needle than recommended.
Free Knitting Pattern: Linen Stitch
Now that you know exactly what the linen stitch is and what you can knit with it, we can get started with the needles. In our gauge swatch, we’ll teach you how to knit the linen stitch using three colors. To give you a little extra help, we’ve also created a video tutorial.
Tools & Supplies for the gauge swatch
- 1 ball of Yarn and Colors Joy in colors 015 Mustard, 040 Pink Sand, and 101 Rosé
- 4.5 mm Knitting Needles
Start: Cast on 51 stitches using a 4.5 mm Knitting Needle. For the Gauge swatch shown in the photos, we cast on 51 stitches and knitted 78 rows.
Row 1: K1, *slip 1 stitch with the yarn in front, K1**, repeat from * to **.
2nd row: Purl 2 stitches, *slip 1 stitch with the yarn in back, purl 1 stitch**, repeat from * to **, and end with 1 purl stitch.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until you think the piece is big enough.
In 1 color: Knit as described above
In 2 colors: Knit rows 1 and 2 in the same color, then switch colors
In 3 colors: Change colors after every row
Video Tutorial: Linen Stitch Knitting
Have fun knitting!
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