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How to Pick Up and Knit Stitches

Example of pickup stitches along the side of your work

About This Technique

There are times in your knitting where you need to continue knitting on your piece in a different direction. Or perhaps you are adding a collar or button band to a sweater. In these situations you will do something referred to as “picking up and knitting stitches”. This is where you work into an edge of a finished piece of fabric. You’ll create new live stitches to continue working from. This allows a seamless look to the project without having to seam two pieces of fabric together.

It’s a relatively simple technique that can be done on a bound off edge or on the side of the fabric. This tutorial will show you how to do both.

[Video] Technique Tutorial

Technique Instructions

Method 1: Picking up a bound off edge

  • Step 1: Insert your needle into the center of the “V” for the row you want to begin picking up stitches in.
  • Step 2: Wrap your working yarn around your needle.
  • Step 3: Pull the yarn through the stitch.

Continue repeating these three steps until you have picked up all your stitches.

Method 2: Picking up from the side

  • Note: This technique is used for slipped stitches along the side of your work. To use this technique on a bound off edge, repeat only steps 1 – 3.
  • Step 1: Insert your needle into the center of the “V” for the row you want to begin picking up stitches in.
  • Step 2: Wrap your working yarn around your needle.
  • Step 3: Pull the yarn through the stitch.
  • Step 4: Insert your needle below the front leg of the same stitch, through the center of the stitch.
  • Step 5: Wrap your working yarn around your needle.
  • Step 6: Pull the yarn through the stitch.

Continue repeating these 6 steps until you have picked up all your stitches.

Example Photos

Method 1 Examples

Method 2 Examples

Technique Attributes

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