Linen Stitch – What You Need To Know

Today’s blog on characteristics of Linen Stitch can be viewed or read. Both are approximately the same. But since video allows me to demonstrate more about a stitch and fabric drape, the video is a bit better.

Linen Stitch – Character Traits

Lou commented on the blog post from this past Friday. He wrote:

I’m hoping you’ll post a photo of the finished linen stitch scarf. I have found the stitch to be rigid and a real yarn eater, but not drapey and with little or no “give”. Maybe if it were in a really smooshy yarn it would be more pleasing.

First of all, thank you Lou for your comment and encouragement. I could easily have answered your question in a lot fewer words. But I thought the Linen Stitch deserved a bit more in-depth discussion.

First of all, what is the Linen Stitch.

The stitch pattern is as follows:

Cast On an Even Number of Stitches ROW 1: Right Side (K1, Slip 1 Purlwise wyif) to end ROW 2: Wrong Side (P1, Slip 1 purlwise wyib) to end

Some of the good characteristics:

Creates a very flat, woven-like fabric

Blends variegated yarns and minimizes bad pooling and striping

Gradually blends stripes of different colors in a pleasing way

Some of the bad characteristics:

Knitting grows slowly (each 2 rows makes up the equivalent of one row stockinette)

Creates a very dense fabric

Selvedge edge looks messy

Fabric can waffle or ruffle at edges

The reverse of the fabric isn’t as appealing as the front (it’s not reversible)

Hints and tips:

Always go up at least 2 needle sizes from typical needle for your yarn – current scarf was fingering weight on US8 (5 mm) needles…5 sizes up from normal

Use a different selvedge stitch pattern with the same row gauge – I used K1, Sl1 wyif for six stitches at the beginning and end of the scarf

Cast On and Bind Off a bit more tightly than you might normally to avoid ruffling the beginning and ending edges or go down a needle size or two just for the cast on and bind off

Make sure you use a wool or fiber that can be blocked flat

Current Knitting

No surprise, I was able to finish the Linen Stitch Scarf.

The scarf ended up being approximately 5.5″ wide and 71″ long. I still have a few ends to weave in, but most of them I wove in before I finished got to the end.