How to Knit Invisible Stitches Grafting

Grafted stitches in contrasting yarn

When knitting a garment or other item, there are times when you will want to avoid seams or make joins between two pieces invisible. This can be done with edgings, sleeves, sock toes and more. To graft two pieces of knitting together invisibly in stockinette stitch, you will begin with the same number of stitches on both pieces of work that you want to graft together. Keep them on the needles and hold them together with purl sides facing inward, then follow these steps.

Things You'll Need

• Length of same yarn used for project
• Yarn needle
• Scissors

Instructions

1. 

   Thread yarn needle with matching yarn long enough to graft all stitches. This will be approximately one inch of yarn for each stitch. Insert yarn needle through first stitch on front needle as though to purl and pull yarn snug. Leave stitch on knitting needle.

2. 

   Insert yarn needle through first stitch on back needle as though to knit and pull yarn snug. Leave stitch on knitting needle.

3. 

   Insert yarn needle into first stitch on front needle as though to knit and slip stitch off knitting needle. Pull yarn just snug enough so that the tension of the new grafted stitch matches the tension of the rest of the knitted piece.

4. 

   Insert yarn needle into second stitch on front needle as though to purl, and leave stitch on knitting needle. Once again, pull yarn through just tight enough so that it results in a stitch of a size that matches the tension of the rest of the knitted piece.

5. 

   Insert yarn needle into first stitch on back needle as though to knit, and slip stitch off knitting needle.

6. 

   Insert yarn needle into second stitch on back needle as though to purl, and leave stitch on knitting needle.

7. Repeat steps 3 through 6 for remaining stitches. When you get to the last stitch, secure the edge of the pieces together by threading yarn through the top and bottom once or twice, then weave in the loose yarn ends on both sides of the grafted work.

Tips & Warnings

• Move stitches to a smaller set of knitting needles before beginning the grafting process. This will allow you to more easily slip the yarn needle into the stitches while grafting.

• Think of the phrase “knit, purl, purl, knit” to help keep yourself on track while grafting.