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The bamboo stitch is a knit texture made of short, raised segments that line up in columns, like stalks of bamboo. Each segment is two knit stitches with a yarn over wrapped around their base. The fabric is firm, lies flat, and has a woven look that hides minor tension wobbles.
It's a beginner stitch with one small trick. If you can knit, purl, and make a yarn over, you have everything you need. There are only two rows to remember, and one of them is plain purl.
The one thing that makes it work is passing the yarn over back over the two knit stitches. That lift is what cinches each pair into a little bundle.
Watch: Bamboo Stitch Video Tutorial
Watch how Mike uses the tip of the left needle to lift the yarn over up and over both knit stitches, and where the yarn sits before he does it.
What You Need
Yarn: any weight works, but a smooth, light-colored yarn in DK or worsted shows the wrapped segments best while you learn. Fuzzy yarn hides the structure.
Needles: the size your yarn calls for. The swatch isn't gauge-critical; a US 7 or 8 (4.5–5mm) suits worsted weight.
Abbreviations: K – knit; P – purl; YO – yarn over; RS – right side; WS – wrong side. "Lift the yo over" means pass the yarn over, with the left needle tip, over the two stitches just knit and off the right needle, the same motion as a psso.
Stitch multiple: multiple of 2, plus 2 edge stitches. The swatch casts on 36.
Bamboo Stitch Written Pattern
Size: 6x6 inches
Cast on 36 stitches.
Row 1 (Right Side): k1, *yo, k2, lift the yo over the two stitches* repeat to last stitch, k1
Row 2: purl all stitches
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until the swatch measures 6 inches, then bind off.
Step-by-Step: How the Stitch Works
- Knit the first edge stitch. Then bring the yarn to the front between the needles and over the right needle to make a yarn over. The yarn over sits on the right needle like a loose stitch.
- Knit the next two stitches. On the right needle you now have, from the tip: two knit stitches, then the yarn over behind them.
- Lift the yarn over. Slide the left needle tip into the yarn over, lift it up and over the two knit stitches, and drop it off the end. The yarn over now wraps the base of the pair.
- Repeat across. Yarn over, knit 2, lift, until one stitch remains. Knit it. Your count is back to 36 because every yarn over gets passed off.
- Purl home. Row 2 is all purl. The wraps stay on the right side and stack straight above each other, which forms the columns.
Tips and Common Mistakes
- Count at the end of Row 1. If you have more than 36, a yarn over didn't get lifted. If you have fewer, you lifted a knit stitch instead of the yarn over.
- Make the yarn over loose. A snug yarn over is hard to lift and can split. A little slack costs nothing because it cinches tight when passed over.
- The right side is the wrapped side. The purl side is plain and shows the bars of the wraps; use a stitch marker on the RS if you lose track.
- Edges stay tidy because of the k1 at each end, and the fabric barely curls, so no border is needed for a scarf.
- Yarn use is moderate. The wraps add a little over stockinette, but far less than a cable or a bobble.
What to Make With the Bamboo Stitch
Because it lies flat and looks the same across the width, the bamboo stitch is a natural for a scarf in DK or worsted weight; see our guide to how to knit a scarf for length and cast-on advice. It also makes a sturdy dishcloth in cotton, a dense hat body in worsted, and a good blanket panel in bulky weight where the texture reads from across the room. In sport weight silk it becomes a light table runner or wrap with a subtle sheen on each segment.
Related Stitches
- Knit Seed Stitch — the other flat, beginner texture, with no yarn overs at all
- Knit Wrap Mock Cable Stitch — uses the same lift-over idea to fake a cable
- Knit Little Bird Stitch — a wrapped-stitch texture with a bit more motion to learn
- Browse every knit stitch tutorial
Yarn for This Stitch
The wraps are small, so a yarn with a little sheen helps them catch the light. A sport weight yarn gives a fine, drapey bamboo fabric for wraps and runners, and Darn Good Twist Sport Weight Silk Yarn, hand-dyed by artisans in India, shows each segment clearly. For a warmer scarf, use the same stitch in worsted weight.
If you'd like a new skein to practice on every month, Yarn of the Month sends three hand-dyed skeins with a knit and crochet pattern written for them, $29 a month plus shipping.
Bamboo Stitch FAQ
Is the bamboo stitch reversible?
No. The right side shows the wrapped segments; the wrong side is a plain purl fabric with small bars. Both sides are tidy, so it's fine for a scarf, but they don't match.
Does the bamboo stitch curl?
Very little. The wraps break up the stockinette structure enough that edges mostly stay flat, especially after blocking.
Is it the same as the wrap stitch or mock cable?
It's the same motion on a smaller scale. A mock cable lifts a yarn over across three or more stitches on a rib background; bamboo lifts it over two stitches all the way across the row.
