Slipped Stitches and the Linen Stitch

Slipped stitches add great texture and fun patterning. 

You should keep in mind that slipped stitch patterns tend to grow more slowly in height. A few things to keep in mind with slipped stitches:

• the row is made up of fewer new stitches; the slipped stitches get stretched over 2 or more rows
• the work is denser (think of the slip stitched heel)
• they tend not to curl

I often recommend you work a slipped stitch pattern with larger needles if you’re not intentionally trying to create a denser area (again, like the heel of a sock). 

One of the most often used places for slipped stitches is to break up pooling, flashing and striping in yarn. The differing heights of the rows do a good job of interspersing colors. Take a look at the Bella socks:

Linen stitch gives you lots of options when you introduce color changes. Look at La Coquette (all the way above, right) in our Fall 2016 issue for a great example of linen stitch worked with three colors. 

Working one-color linen stitch is easy. Over an even number of sts:

Row 1 (RS): *K1, sl 1 wyif, rep from * to end.

Rows 2: *K1, sl 1 wyib, rep from * to end.

Note that for both, the stitch IS NOT twisted. I’m repeating this because it’s so important.

Now that you’re armed with how to make slipped stitch patterns, you’ll think of lots of places to put them:

• In a shawl for a fun change.
• On the patterning of a sock to mix the colors of a funky skein of hand dyed yarn.
• Along the edge of a sweater or neckline, like in Unwrapped.
• Or, like in La Coquette, to combine multiple colors

Add this simple stitch to your work. A few Knotions patterns that use slipped stitches:

• Unwrapped top-down pullover (along the edges and on the belt) – in sizes 28-54″
• La Coquette scarf
• Rainbow Chain blanket (left)
• Bella socks (the pic above)

Give slipped stitches a try. They’re easy and add a great accent to your knitting!