KITCHENER STITCH

Master the neatest way to finish your socks

When working Kitchener stitch (also known as grafting) you need an equal number of stitches, divided across two needles, and a tapestry needle to work the graft. If you have an odd number of stitches in your sock toe then work a single decrease on the top of the foot stitches only so that you have the same number top and bottom.

1 Make sure that your stitches are divided so that the decreases at the side of the toe are at each end of your two needles, creating a shape that’s a bit like a pyramid with the top cut off. Break your working yarn, leaving a tail at least 25cm long and thread it onto a tapestry needle. If you have enough yarn it’s worth making the tail a bit longer to be on the safe side just in case you need it.

2 With the last live stitches for the top and bottom of the foot on the right-hand end of your needles, take the tapestry needle purlwise through the first stitch on the front needle.

3 Then take the tapestry needle knitwise through the first stitch on the back needle.

4 Take the tapestry needle knitwise through the first stitch on the front needle… 5 …and slip it off the front needle. 6 Then pass the tapestry needle purlwise through the first stitch on the front needle and leave it on.

7 Take the tapestry needle purlwise through the first stitch on the back needle…

8 ...and slip it off.

9 Then pass the tapestry needle knitwise through the first stitch on the back needle and leave it on.

10 Repeat steps 4 to 9 until you have worked all your stitches.

11 Use your tapestry needle to ‘bury’ the final stitch into the side of the toe and weave in your ends.

12 Your toe is finished!