Basic Stitch

Garter Stitch (g st)

Beginner Basic
Garter Stitch finished swatch

Used For

  • Scarves
  • Blankets
  • Reversible borders
  • Dishcloths

The simplest knitted fabric — every row is a knit row, producing a bumpy, reversible texture that lies flat without curling.

Instructions

  1. Cast on any number of stitches.
  2. Knit every stitch on every row, including the wrong side.
  3. Continue until your piece reaches the desired length.
  4. Bind off knitwise.

Tips & Notes

  • Garter stitch is fully reversible — there's no right or wrong side, which makes it ideal for scarves and blankets.
  • Because every row is worked the same way, garter stitch never curls at the edges the way stockinette does.
  • Garter stitch uses roughly 25% more yarn than stockinette for the same area, since the ridges pull the fabric in vertically.

Related Stitches