Genius Tips
Grafting Genius, Part 2: That Clever Trick Is Even More Clever
In my last column, I talked about a different way to think about grafting. Many knitters commented that they find the common knit-off-purl-on-purl-off-knit-on mantra works well for them. I love that!
But that mantra didn’t work for me. I’m not great at just memorizing something; I much prefer to know how something works, and explore the reasons why.
This is how I landed on my “read the fabric” solution that I offered in the last column. And I was so happy to hear that many who had struggled with the mantra found my instructions helpful.
This column is all about why this “read the fabric” solution can be helpful even if you are already good at grafting, even if you already have the mantra memorized or, perhaps, tattooed.
In short: Reading the fabric opens the door to grafting other fabrics.
I told a slight untruth in the last column, in the interests of simplicity. I said that you should follow the stitches in the fabrics you are working with, and let those stitches tell you what to do.
There’s a bit more to it than that. It’s actually about making the stitch you need. You don’t have to follow the stitches as they appear! You make what you need.
The first step is always the facing side of the stitch you need to make, and the second stitch is always the back side of the stitch you need.
When you’re grafting stockinette stitch, you need knits on the front needle and purls on the back, so:
Front needle—make a knit: put the darning needle through the stitch as if to knit and slip off, then put the darning needle through the next stitch as if to purl and leave it on.
Back needle—make a purl: put the darning needle through the stitch as if to purl and slip off, then put the darning needle through the next stitch as if to knit and leave it on.
Once you understand this, you can do other fabrics just as easily.
If you are grafting reverse stockinette, then it’s the opposite: you need to make a purl stitch on the front needle and a knit stitch on the back needle.
Front fabric is purl first, knit second; Back fabric is knit first, purl second.
Front needle—make a purl: put the darning needle through the stitch as if to purl and slip off, then put the darning needle through the next stitch as if to knit and leave it on.
Back needle—make a knit: put the darning needle through the stitch as if to knit and slip off, then put the darning needle through the next stitch as if to purl and leave it on.
Ta da!
This also solves the challenge presented by garter stitch. The simplest way to graft garter stitch is to set things up so that you’ve got the purl ridge right up against both needles.
I’ve heard this referred to as “Purl high,” which I like!
When you’re working garter stitch, when you start a row, that purl ridge is right up against the needle, and you knit those stitches.
Applying that logic to grafting—if we are holding the work purl-high, we need to make a knit on both sides.
A bit more technical detail here: Although a graft looks like a row of knitting (or purling), what you’re really doing is making two connections. You are connecting to the stitch in front/below, and connecting to the stitch behind/above.
Those two connections can (and often need to) be different: with stockinette stitch, it’s knit connections on the front/lower stitches and purl on the back/upper stitches; with reverse stockinette it’s purl connections on the front and knit connections on the back. For garter stitch, it’s knit connections on both sides.
Which means it goes like this:
Front needle—make a knit connection: put the darning needle through the stitch as if to knit and slip off, then put the darning needle through the next stitch as if to purl and leave it on.
Back needle—make a knit connection: put the darning needle through the stitch as if to knit and slip off, then put the darning needle through the next stitch as if to purl and leave it on.
Perfect!
I’ve left the stitches a little loose so you can see them. When you’re working, tidy them up as you go so that the stitch-connections you’re making are the same tension and size as the stitches of the fabric.
Remember the secret is in how you hold your work. Once you are set up correctly, just connect those stitches.
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Hola, se nota que es genial el detalle de explicación. Felicitaciones a la autora. Lamentablemente al traducir no se llegan a entender en detalle los pasos y se pierde mucho. ¿Pueden hacer un video para los lectores con estás diferencias? Lo apreciaría mucho, me gusta mucho aprender y si es con lógica mejor, muchas gracias!!
Wait a minute….RE: “Front needle—make a knit: put the darning needle through the stitch as if to knit and slip off, then put the darning needle through the next stitch as if to purl and slip off.”…wait, what??? what happened to “Then put the darning needle through the (new) first stitch as if to purl, but let it stay on the knitting needle.”
You are completely correct, and I apologize! The column was initially published with a very silly mistake due to a search-and-replace issue. As of 10am or so Eastern time, the problem was fixed. Thank you for letting us know!
Me, too. I haven’t actually tried it, but it seems slipping off every stitch can’t possibly work. ???
Yup. You are completely correct, and I apologize! The column was initially published with a very silly mistake due to a search-and-replace issue. As of 10am or so Eastern time, the problem was fixed. Thank you to everyone who reported this!
I thought the same thing. It’s not just listed like that in one place (a typo), but in all the instructions.
Replying to everyone so I’m sure it’s not missed…. You are completely correct, and I apologize! The column was initially published with a very silly mistake due to a search-and-replace issue. As of 10am or so Eastern time, the problem was fixed. Thank you for letting us know!
I was wondering the same thing?
Hello…. As above… You are completely correct, and I apologize! The column was initially published with a very silly mistake due to a search-and-replace issue. As of 10am or so Eastern time, the problem was fixed. We are grateful for the comments that alerted us to the issue.
I don’t have an issue with the mantra but your explanation felt like a door opened! Now I not only have the mantra but the understanding! Thank you!
So happy to hear it!
Thank you for this insight! When I started grafting it was all memorizing and then I’d get distracted and inevitably miss a step. I also like understanding it. Just this morning I’m trying to graft 1×1 rib (to lengthen a hat that I can’t bear reknitting from the bottom up.) The simple tutorials online say it can’t be done (will be offset) but surely that can’t be true?? It’s to a bound-off edge, so I think something is possible.
If you have a hat that’s knit bottom-up, you cut the bottom off, pick up stitches on the top part of the hat and work down to make a new rib, then your stitches will be offset where you start to work down.
But it sounds like you intend to remove the rib, pick up your stitches on the rib section and then knit up, before grafting the extended rib section to the rest of the hat. If you do that then you won’t get any offset stitches.
Do you teach any in person classes on this? I’d love to learn this technique, bit I’m a “show-me” person.
It’s so nice to have instructions available! Your brain is amazing! Thank you for sharing what you’ve learned and doing it in such a way that those of us who weren’t blessed with your ability to “figure it out” can understand!
On one hand, your article makes me feel smart because I had figured this out on my own. But on the other hand, it makes me feel dumb because I never could have explained it to any one else!
And now I feel even dumber because I originally posted this reply on the wrong article!!
That was awesome!! I think I can remember it better that way. I think sometimes people need something’s explained a little different way because everyone thinks differently! Thank you so much.
Thank you Kate! This is bookmarked for me to continue to review. I love learning from you in all forms, but especially your classes. Take care!