Two-Colour Garter Stitch

Some knitters love garter stitch, others don’t. No matter whether you belong to the first or the second group, the stitch pattern described in this tutorial will give you a new perspective on the good old garter stitch.

The fabric created by this stitch pattern has all the properties of garter stitch, but it looks very different. The colours are mixed together to form a pattern that looks somewhat like a two-colour woven fabric.

The magic happens when we change the angle of the fabric.

If we look at it from the cast-on edge, one of the colours becomes predominant. When we turn the swatch and look at it from the other end, the fabric seems to be done mainly in the other colour.

Let’s see how we can form this pattern when we knit back and forth and in the round.

THIS STITCH IN A NUTSHELL

• Level of difficulty – Easy
• Reversible? Yes
• Textured? Yes
• Best for – Scarves, cowls, blankets, hats, cozy roomy sweaters and cardigans
• Stitch multiple – any number of stitches
• Row multiple – 4 rows / rounds

VIDEO TUTORIAL
(if you don’t see the video, turn off the ad blocker in your browser)

WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS

MATERIALS

Because it is a two-colour pattern, we’ll need yarn in two colours that look nice together. While we are testing this pattern, it is better to use yarn in two solid colours. I suspect that this stitch will also look great when knitted in a variegated + solid colour, but it is easier to understand how the pattern works when we use two different colours of yarn.

As for the needles, we’ll need double-pointed or circular needles in a size that works well with the thickness of the yarn we plan to use. This stitch pattern can’t be worked on straight needles. We’ll use double-pointed needles even when we work this stitch back and forth.

If you decide to use this stitch pattern for a flat project that has many stitches (e.g. a wide scarf or a blanket), use circular needles.

GENERAL IDEA

The trick to making this beautiful colour pattern is to change colours in every row or round. No matter whether we work in the round or make a flat piece, we’ll work in the usual garter stitch pattern, but we’ll work one row/round in colour A and the next one in colour B.

HOW TO KNIT TWO-COLOUR GARTER STITCH BACK AND FORTH

Cast on any number of stitches using the darker or the brighter of the two colours. This colour will be the colour A.

Use any cast-on method you like. Because this stitch pattern has moderate stretch, it works well with most types of cast on. For my swatch, I used a slingshot version of the long-tail cast on.

Turn the work and tie the yarn in colour B at the very bottom of the first stitch.

The idea is the same – we work in garter stitch, changing colours in every row.

After rows 1 and 3, the yarn that we need to work the next row will be on the other side of the work. To get to that yarn, we’ll slide stitches to the other tip of the needle. That’s why we can work only with double-pointed or circular needles.

Here’s how to do it row by row.

Row 1: knit all stitches with the yarn in colour B.

Do not turn your work. Instead, slide all stitches to the other end of the needle.

Row 2: purl all stitches with the yarn in colour A. Turn the work.

Row 3: purl all stitches with the yarn in colour B.

Do not turn your work. Slide the stitches to the other end of the needle.

Row 4: knit all stitches with the yarn in colour A. Turn the work.

Repeat these four rows to form the pattern.

Not that difficult, right? And it gets even easier when we add two-colour garter stitch to seamless projects. Because both strands “meet” every time we finish a round, there is no need to slide the stitches to the other tip of the needle.

HOW TO KNIT TWO-COLOUR GARTER STITCH IN THE ROUND

Cast on any number of stitches using the yarn in colour A.

Arrange stitches for working in the round on double-pointed needles, two circular needles, or one circular needle (with or without using the magic loop method).

Join stitches in a circle and place a marker to mark the beginning of the round.

Tie the yarn in colour B (the other colour) to the yarn in colour A with a simple knot. Move the knot as close to the bottom of the first stitch as possible.

Round 1: knit all stitches with the yarn in colour B.

Round 2: purl all stitches with the yarn in colour A.

Round 3: knit all stitches with the yarn in colour B.

Round 4: purl all stitches with the yarn in colour A.

Repeat these 4 rounds again and again until your project is as long as you want it to be.

If you want to form a neat line in the spot where you change colours, always bring the yarn that you plan to use in the next round from under the yarn that you used in the previous round.

When it is time to bind off stitches, do it in the row or round worked in colour A. This way, the horizontal edges of your project will look consistent.

CHART

If you are not sure how to read a knitting chart, here’s a guide for beginners that explains what knitting charts mean, how to understand the symbols, why there is a red frame in a chart, and how to read lace, cable, or any other knitting chart when knitting back and forth or in the round.

GIVE IT A TRY!

Take any yarn in two colours and needles in a size recommended for this yarn and cast on 10 stitches.

Follow instructions for rows 1, 2, 3 and 4 until you make 8 rows.

Look at the texture of your swatch, turn it to the other side, and tilt it See how the optical illusion works on both sides of the fabric.

Also, stretch the swatch and notice that the fabric is the same as the one made when we knit garter stitch in one colour. Also, see that none of the edges tend to curl.

What is the first project that comes to mind? When you submit your choice to the fully anonymous poll below, you will see what other knitters picked.

PATTERN CARD

SAVE IT FOR LATER