Knit Stitch Library: 48 Video Stitch Tutorials

This is the index for every knitting tutorial in the Darn Good Yarn Stitch Learning Center. Each one has a short video, the written swatch pattern, step-by-step notes for when you have paused the video, and a few tips on where the stitch tends to go wrong.

The stitches are grouped by what they are for. If you are new, start with the cast-ons and the first four fabrics (garter, stockinette, seed, moss), then try a rib. Cables and lace come after that, and most of them are easier than they look once you can read your knitting.

Every tutorial lists the stitch multiple, so you can size a swatch, a scarf or a blanket panel without guessing. If you are not sure which yarn weight to use, the yarn weight chart covers it, and the knitting abbreviations list explains every shorthand used in these patterns.

Cast-Ons and First Stitches

Long Tail Cast On — the cast-on most patterns assume
Long Tail Cast On Without Measuring — no more guessing the tail length
Provisional Cast On — for stitches you will pick up later
Garter Stitch — every row knit; the first fabric most people make
Stockinette Stitch — smooth on one side, bumpy on the other
Seed Stitch — reversible and lies flat
Moss Stitch — seed stitch stretched over two rows

Ribbing

1x1 Rib Stitch — cuffs, brims and hems
Rib Stitch — the same 1x1 rib, taught from the start
Baby Cable Ribbing — a tiny twist every few rows
Braided Ribbing — rib with a braided look
Cartridge Belt Rib Stitch — a deep, squishy rib
Corded Ribbing — rib with a corded edge
Embossed Moss Stitch Ribbing — moss stitch columns inside the rib
Eyelet Mock Cable Ribbing — a cable look with no cable needle
Slip Stitch Ribbing — slipped stitches make the ribs pop
Mock Rib Stitch — looks like rib, knits faster
Open Chain Ribbing — airy rib with chain-like columns
Broad Spiral Rib Stitch — rib that leans and spirals

Textured Stitches

Bamboo Stitch — small raised segments
Basketweave Stitch — blocks of knit and purl
Checkerboard Stitch — bigger squares, same idea
Diagonal Basketweave Stitch — basketweave on the bias
Dot Stitch — a tidy all-over purl dot
Andalusian Stitch — a four-row texture that stays flat
Three and One Stitch — slip-stitch texture with a tweedy look
Bobble Stitch — raised bobbles on a plain ground
Raspberry Stitch — dense, berry-like bumps
Daisy Stitch — little flower clusters
Fur Stitch (Loop Stitch) — loops that look like fringe or fur
Smock Stitch — gathered, smocked look
Roman Stitch — a simple two-row texture
Herringbone Stitch — dense, woven-looking fabric
Slip Stitch Honeycomb Pattern — slipped stitches form honeycomb cells

Cables

Cable Stitch — start here: the basic cable twist
Chunky Braid Cable Stitch — a wide three-strand braid
Honeycomb Stitch — an all-over cable lattice
Lattice Stitch — cables that cross into a trellis
Reverse Slipped Plait Cable — a plait cable with slipped stitches
Wrap Mock Cable Stitch — a cable look made by wrapping
Cloverleaf Eyelet Cable Stitch — cables with eyelets between
Lace and Cable Stitch — cable columns beside lace

Lace and Openwork

Horseshoe Lace Stitch and Horseshoe Cable — a classic lace motif
Trellis Lace Stitch — diagonal eyelets
Netted Stitch — an open, net-like fabric
Lace and Seed Stitch — eyelets on a seed stitch ground
Little Bird Stitch — small winged motifs
Inverness Diamonds Stitch — diamonds outlined in eyelets

How to Pick a Stitch for a Project

Scarves and blankets want a stitch that lies flat and looks good from both sides: seed, moss, basketweave, checkerboard, most ribs, and the slip-stitch textures all qualify. Stockinette curls on its own, so give it a rib or garter border.

Hats and cuffs want stretch, which means a true rib (1x1 or 2x2) rather than a mock rib. Cables use more yarn than plain fabric and pull the width in, so swatch before you commit. Lace opens up after blocking, so your swatch will look tighter than the finished piece.

If you want one yarn that shows every stitch clearly while you learn, a smooth, light-colored yarn in sport or DK weight is the easiest to read. Darn Good Yarn's sport weight and DK weight collections are a good place to look, and Yarn of the Month sends three hand-dyed skeins with a knit and crochet pattern written for them, $29 a month plus shipping, if you would like a new stitch to practice each month.