Kitchener Stitching for B

Warning: This post will be pic heavy.

So, I spent years Kitchenering backwards. Instead of a nice, smooth ending to the toe, I got a purl ridge. I still don't know what I changed so that it finally works now, but since my friend B (sadly blogless) just finished her first pair of socks, and needs to learn how to do that "toe-closing stitch-thing", and I had a sock from Socks That Rock that needed to be Kitchenered, I thought, we could work together.

So, B, (and anyone else who's interested), here's how I kitchener stitch my toes.

Here we have a friendly neighborhood sock. Say hello to the Sivia Harding sock, kids! (sock voice) Hello kids!

Okay, I'll stop.

This sock is all prepped for kitchenering. We have the stitches lined up on two needles, evenly split. We've cut the yarn from the ball, but left a long tail (probably 18" or so) and threaded it on a yarn needle.


First, we prep the front stitch. Insert the yarn needle into the stitch like you're going to purl. Pull through. Do not remove that single stitch from the knitting needle.Prep the back stitch. Insert the sewing needle into the stitch on the back needle as if you're going to knit. See how I'm still coming from the "front" of the work? I think I used to get in trouble by bringing my working yarn over the knitting needles. That doesn't work. Learn from my mistakes. :)

Okay, now we're ready to get going. Insert the sewing needle into the first stitch on the front knitting needle.

Pull this stitch off the knitting needle. You've got your sewing needle in it, it's not going anywhere.

Now, pull the yarn through (don't get too tight, you can adjust this later with a little fidgeting of the yarn). One stitch bound off.

Now, prep the next stitch, still on the front needle. Don't pull this stitch off the knitting needle.

Back needle gets the same treatment, but in reverse. Insert your sewing needle as if to purl, and pull the stitch off the knitting needle.

Prep your next stitch by inserting the sewing needle as if to knit. Don't take this stitch off the needle.

Wash, rinse, repeat.
Until all of your stitches are bound off.

Then, do a happy dance. Possibly have a drink. It's good for you! (the kitchenering, I mean).