Tutorial: Cinch Stitch

This stitch may be a bit more complex than some other stitches, but it definitely very doable and only combines a few basic knitting stitches.

How to Make the Cinch Stitch

Note that no stitch count is changed. You start working 7 stitches and you end with 7 stitches. It does create 2 rows of knitting, but since you’re also working decreases and slipping stitches, the added length is negligible.

What you do in these 4 steps create a pretty effect.

Step 1

Ssk,

slip 3 stitches together all at once (as if to k3tog),

k2tog.

You now have 5 stitches on the right needle. Note that I have 7 because I started with 2 stitches on my right needle.

Step 2

Pass the first stitch on right needle over the following four (take the ‘ssk’ stitch and pass it over the slipped stitches and the ‘k2tog’ stitches).

You now have 4 stitches on the right needle.

Step 3

Return the 4 stitches back to left needle.

I actually do Steps 2 and 3 in the reverse order – I do Step 3 first and then I do Step 2. Either way is fine, as long as you have 4 stitches on the left needle when you’re done.