The Knitting Fiend

When I knit socks, I like to graft the toes; grafting is also called “Kitchener stitch”. This makes an absolutely invisible seam but must be worked on live stitches. Here’s how I graft when I hand knit my sockUlator sock.

After shaping the toe, I transferred the remaining stitches to two needles and grafted the top stitches to the bottom stitches as shown to the left.

But, I think you may want to see closeups.

Step 1: To do this, thread a tapestry needle with the sock yarn. I always work from right to left when grafting, although the direction doesn’t actually matter. I insert the tip of the tapestry needle into the stitch just to the right of the front needle tip. I insert from front to back, then I insert from back to front through the left stitch; see below right. I draw the yarn through and tighten to make it the same size as the surrounding stitches.

After I do this, I always drop the stitch off the left needle tip.

Step 2: Next, I insert the tip of the tapestry needle from back to front through the right hand stitch on the back needle, then I take go back to front through the next stitch to the left. (Notice, in both cases, I first insert from the knit and take the tip to the purl side; then the tip goes from purl side to knit side. )

I then draw the yarn through, and tighten to make the stitch the right size. Once again. I drop the stitch off the tip of the back needle.

Now, I repeat steps 1 and 2 until I have grafted all stitches on the needles together.

When you do this you’ll see grafting (also known as Kitchener stitch) creates a row of knitting. So, I have a nice invisible no-seam seam.

Comfy and mysterious!