How to Make a Welt in Knitting

Knitting a welt does not require any specific yarn, needle size or pattern.

A welt is a raised bump that spans the length of a piece of knitting. It can be used decoratively or to house a drawstring. Welts can be made with knit stitches, purl stitches or any other pattern, and they can be made as small or large as you choose. Making a welt is as simple as folding your work over itself and joining it at the back.

Things You'll Need

• Yarn
• Knitting needles
• Stitch marker
• 1 straight or double-pointed needle smaller than your working needles

Instructions

1. Knit your piece in whatever pattern you choose until you come to the place you want to start the welt. Mark the row and continue knitting in the pattern for as many rows as you'd like to include in your welt, typically four to 10 rows.

2. Turn your work so the wrong side is facing you with your working needle on the bottom. Find the row you marked and insert the smaller needle into each stitch of the row on the wrong side, picking up those stitches on the needle.

3. Pinch your working needle and the needle with your picked-up stitches together. Knit the live stitches on these two needles together with your other working needle, as if you were doing a three-needle bind-off.

4. Continue working your piece as before the welt.

Tips & Warnings

• Fold over your work, pinching the beginning and ending rows together, to check the size of your welt before you join it.