How to Knit Seed Stitch in the Round (Knitting Lessons for Crocheters, Lesson 7)
Welcome back BiCrafty bootcampers! Last week we began working on a knit cowl in the round. We’re going to continue on that today while learning a new stitch pattern: the seed stitch. You’ll learn how to knit seed stitch in the round. Of course, you can also knit seed stitch in rows. This builds up your knitting stitch vocabulary so you can create items with new texture now!
Crocheter’s Edge
The great thing about learning seed stitch as your next skill is that you may already have a sense of what it is from crochet. Crochet also has seed stitch and the texture is strikingly similar to knit seed stitch. In both knitting and crochet, you might see seed stitch go by a variety of names. However, the stitch pattern is the same.
In crochet, you alternate single crochet and double crochet across the row or in the round. Then you do the opposite for the next row or round, so that you’ll double crochet in each single crochet and single crochet in each double crochet. The result is a terrific texture.
The main difference in the knit and crochet seed stitch texture is that you’re using stitches of different heights in the crochet version but same height stitches in the knit version. If you can do this in crochet, then you’re going to easily figure it out in knitting as well.
How to Knit Seed Stitch
Obviously, we don’t have single and double knit stitches. What we do have, however, is knits and purls.
If you were working seed stitch in rows, then you would K1, P1 across the row. Then you’d do the same thing in the next row. And the next and the next. In other words, how to knit seed stitch is to knit your purls and purl your knits when working K1, P1.
When working in rounds, you do the same thing: knit into your purls, purl into your knits. However, because you’re working in the round, not turning your work from one needle to the next, you have to do it a little bit differently. You have to K1, P1 in round one then P1, K1 in round two and so forth.
You already learned K1, P1 last week. However, for ribbing, you knit your knits and purled your purls. For seed stitch, you knit your purls and purl your knits. Otherwise, the concept is the same. Here’s a video for you:
How to Knit Seed Stitch in the Round
Of course, since we’re working in the round for this cowl, you have to learn how to knit seed stitch in the round. So, just to be really clear we’ll recap:
- First, in round one, you K1, P1.
- Then in round two, you P1, K1.
- Then you repeat those two rounds .
- Knit the purls, purl the knits. You’ve got this!
Knit to approximately the same number of inches of fabric as you did for the ribbing in the first part of the cowl. So if you did about 1.5″ of knit ribbing then you’ll now do about 1.5″ of seed stitch. This is a really flexible pattern, so a little more or a little less is totally fine.
If you’re still confused about why the pattern is slightly different when worked in rows than in the round, be sure to watch last week’s Live Video which covers that topic. You can also read an article about it here.
Knitter’s Tips for Crocheters
This might help you out:
BiCrafty Boot Camp Knit Cowl Pattern: Part 2, Seed Stitch
MATERIALS: You’ll need one ball of Chic Sheep for the hat and two balls of Chic Sheep yarn for the cowl. We’re using Size 8 (5 mm) 24″ circular knitting needles.
It’s time to start knitting the next texture in your sampler stitch cowl knit in the round. You’ll continue working just above the K1 P1 base you created last week. Here are those instructions:
- Pick up your work where you left off last week. You should have 140 stitches live on your circular needles.
- Since you were previously working K1, P1 ribbing, you’re ready to go. Begin with a round of P1, K1.
- Follow with a round of K1, P1.
- Continue alternating rounds of P1, K1 and rounds of K1, P1.
Here’s this week’s video:
Additional Videos and Patterns You’re Ready For
At this stage of BiCrafty Boot Camp, you might be interested in these videos:
- How to Knit the Bird Seed Cowl. While this isn’t knit seed stitch, it’s got enough in common with it that you might want to check it out now.
And you might want to check out these patterns:
- Bernat Knit Striped Pillows. These are simple knit seed stitch pillows.
- Free Knit Cowl Pattern (a good teacher’s gift plus you work seed stitch in the round)
- Bernat Seed Stitch Blanket. Note that you begin each row with a K1 before you do the K1, P1.
- 14 Seed Stitch Patterns in Knit and Crochet
And you’re almost ready to work on a hat so check out the Knit Seed Stitch Chic Hat pattern. Get 50% off of that pattern through 5/19/21 with promo code seedstitch.
