How to Knit a Ladder Stitch

The ladder stitch is sometimes called the mattress stitch. It is an ideal stitch to join the edges of two fabrics, such as joining the seams of an armhole onto the body of a sweater. The ladder also occurs as a run or unraveling in the fabric that may need repair.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Two knitting needles
• Knitted fabric with unjoined edges
• Tapestry needle
• Crochet hook

Learn the Ladder Stitch

1. Have the right sides of the pieces facing up.
2. Work in one stitch from the edge of the fabric.
3. Between the first and second stitches on one piece, go under the running yarn. Do this with a tapestry needle and matching yarn.
4. Repeat the previous step on the other piece.
5. Continue working from side to side.
6. Pull the yarn to close the seam every four to six stitches.

Correct an Unraveled Knit Ladder

7. Find the dropped stitch.
8. Insert a crochet hook through the front of the dropped stitch.
9. Find the strand and hook it.
10. Pull the strand through the stitch and you will have a new stitch one row up.
11. Continue in this way to the top of the ladder.

Correct an Unraveled Purl Ladder

12. Find the dropped stitch.
13. Insert a crochet hook through the back of the dropped stitch.
14. Find the strand and hook it with the crochet needle.
15. Pull the strand up through the stitch to form a new stitch a row up.
16. Re-insert the hook repeatedly to continue making stitches until the top of the ladder is reached.

Tips & Warnings

• Working from the right side of the fabric makes it much easier to line up the pattern.
• Consider using wood or bamboo needles instead of aluminum of plastic. Wood needles are much easier to work with.
• Find instructions for the ladder stitch and other basic stitches on such websites as Annie's Attic (see Resources below).
• The ladder stitch is often one of many stitches found in a knitting pattern.
• Consider joining a knitting group or class to get the support needed for questions or challenging techniques.
• As with any knit stitch, it is best to practice, practice, practice! With continued practice, this and any other stitch will become second nature.
• Not all ladder stitches are done with knitting needles. Some ladder stitches are found in crochet patterns.
• As with any knit pattern, be sure to use the recommended weight and type of yarn.