Tip Tuesday: How to Knit Linen Stitch

Looking for a way to add a beautiful texture and a woven look to your next project? Meet the linen stitch. This easy slip-stitch pattern creates a dense, flat fabric that looks almost handwoven. It’s perfect for scarves, sweaters, or anytime you want structure and crip stitches. 

Today’s tip breaks down how to knit the linen stitch step by step, plus a quick trick for remembering where you left off if you put down your project for a minute or two.

Materials We Used:

For this tutorial, we used:

• Kestrel — our 100% Organic linen. Its ribbon structure makes every stitch pop, so it’s great for showing off that crisp, woven texture of the linen stitch.
  
  
• Lykke 3.5" Multi-Color Interchangeable Circular Needle Set (we used a size 8 / 5.00mm) — smooth, sturdy, and just right for knitting flat or in the round.

Let’s Knit Linen Stitch

Linen stitch is nice and simple: it’s just knits, purls, and slipped stitches. When you slip a stitch, you’re simply moving it from your left needle to your right without working it.

Stitch Pattern:

Cast On:
Start by casting on an odd number of stitches.

Row 1 (Right Side):
Slip one purlwise, *Knit 1, bring your yarn to the front of your work, slip 1 purlwise, bring yarn to the back, repeat from * to the end of the row.

Row 2 (Wrong Side):
*Purl 1, bring your yarn to the back, slip 1 purlwise, bring yarn to the front, repeat from * to the last stitch of the row, purl 1.

Keep repeating these two rows until your piece is the length you want. Then sit back and watch as the fabric starts to form. On your knit side, you’ll see that it’s a smooth and subtle texture and on the purl side, you’ll see a raised texture. But we think both sides are beautiful and unique!

A quick note: linen stitch creates a tight, sturdy fabric, so keep your tension a little on the loose side. And definitely swatch first! Many knitters are surprised at how much denser it works up than stockinette stitch!

 

Pro Tip: Mark Your Rows

It’s really easy to forget if you’re on a knit or purl row, especially if you set your project down mid-repeat. Save yourself the guesswork: pop a removable stitch marker at the start of your knit rows. Next time you pick it up, you’ll know exactly where you left off.

Why We Love It

Linen stitch is such a lovely way to add structure and texture. With a crisp yarn like Kestrel, your stitches look clean and polished, and the fabric stays flat with zero curling on the edges.

Give It a Try

Cast on a quick swatch, or add a linen stitch border to your next project. It’s an easy way to play with texture and see just how beautifully this stitch works up.

Looking for more texture ideas?

Explore our full collection of yarns, tools, and tutorials on our blog… your next favorite stitch is waiting!