The Moss Stitch Knitting Stitch Pattern

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The moss stitch knitting stitch pattern is one of the basic knitting stitch patterns.  It is a very versatile knitting stitch pattern that is often used as a border or a panel on either side of a textured, cable or lace knitting stitch pattern.

Basically moss stitch alternates between knit and purl stitches.  This is going to be a bit confusing, but there are two ways of looking at it. 

Moss Stitch | © Deborah Mason & Knitting Naturally

The first way is factually correct in that if you knit a particular stitch on one row, you also knit it in the next row and all purl stitches on the first row are purl stitches on the next row.  But it can be a little bit difficult to get your head around because each stitch looks different when switching from one side of your knitting to looking at the same stitch on the other side.   

The other way to visualise moss stitch is that if the stitch below the next one you work looks like a knit stitch, you purl the next stitch and if it looks like a purl stitch, you should knit the next stitch.

To use moss stitch you will need to know how to cast on, cast off and how to form knit stitches and purl stitches.  You could get someone else to do the casting on and off for you if you are just starting out, but believe me, eventually you will want to learn how to do these two steps yourself if you are going to keep knitting.

Instructions for Moss Stitch Knitting Stitch Pattern

The instructions for Moss Stitch vary depending on whether it is knitted over an odd or even number of stitches and in always a two row pattern.  To knit Moss Stitch over an uneven number of stitches:

1st row: *K1, p1; rep from * to end of row.
2nd row: As for 1st row.

Repeat these two rows.

If you wish to knit moss stitch over an even number of stitches, you need to adjust the knitting instructions slightly:

1st row: *K1, p1; rep from * to end of row.
2nd row: *P1, k1; rep from * to end of row.Repeat these two rows.

Some Project Suggestions in Moss Stitch

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