The seed stitch is a very easy Knit and Purl stitch that gives a beautiful raised dimple effect, almost like scattered seeds.

The seed stitch (also known in the UK/Australia/New Zealand as the Moss Stitch) is similar to the Garter Stitch in that it doesn’t curl. This makes it ideal for any part of a project you wish to remain flat like the border or cuffs of a cardigan.

So, what is a seed stitch? The seed stitch requires mastery of the two basic stitches – knit and purl. These two basic stitches are combined by alternating each stitch – you knit one, then purl one for an entire row, reverse the fabric and repeat.

Instructions

Cast on the required number of EVEN stitches for your project, begin row 1 by knitting one stitch followed by purling one stitch and continue until you have finished the first row.

Now reverse the fabric and repeat – start by purling one, then knitting one until you have completed row 2. Again, reverse and continue till you have the desired size.

Difficulty Level:

Cast on:

Cast on any even number of stitches.

Techniques Used in this Stitch:

k
p

Traditional Instructions

Row 1: *k1, p1; repeat from * to the end

Row 1: *p1, k1; repeat from * to the end

Repeat row 1 to desired length.

Seed Stitch Chart

Seed Stitch Swatch Examples

Example of Seed Stitch – Right Side

Example of Seed Stitch – Wrong Side