Welcome to texture town! Today’s post is all about textured knitting stitches! There’s just something about a nicely textured stitch that’s incredibly satisfying. With stitches that feel as good as they look, all your future knitting projects are sure to shine!
Anyone from beginner knitters to experienced knitters and everyone in between is sure to be able to find lots of good stuff in this curated list. We’ve got plenty of textured knitting stitches that are totally beginner friendly. Break free from garter stitch and stockinette stitch! And we have a healthy dose of trickier textured knitting stitches too for those that like a challenge!
You’ll soon find that textured knitting stitches work well in a wide variety of knitting projects. After all, who doesn’t love to run their hands over a textured throw or sweater? Whatever you’re thinking of making, I’m confident that you’ll be able to find the perfect stitch for it.
You don’t need any particular yarn for these stitches, but I’ve listed the name of the yarn the designer used in their stitch tutorial (if they included that information in their post), just for fun. I encourage you to grab a skein of yarn and a pair of knitting needles to match. That way you can practice all your newfound textured knitting stitches! That’s right, it’s time to swatch y’all!
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25 Totally Textured Knitting Stitches for Your Next Project
1. Bubble Stitch
How fun is this cute and colorful bubble stitch swatch! I’m totally picturing an adorable little baby sweater with this knit stitch pattern. The 3-dimensional texture is so playful and eye-catching! This stitch technique involves dropping stitches. You can practice with the free hat pattern linked in the tutorial.
Designer: Wool and the Gang
Yarn: None Specified
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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2. Tartan Weave Stitch
You can mimic the classic look of tartan weave in monochrome with the beautiful (and surprisingly easy) tartan weave stitch. All you have to do is alternate rows of 3×3 rib with rows of stockinette. See? Easy peasy! The solid surface of the stitchwork looks perfect for a cozy blanket or sweater.
Designer: eKnitting Stitches
Yarn: None Specified
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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3. Flowers in a Row
3-dimensional flower chains would make a stunning accent on a scarf or an eye catching edging on an afghan. This may be one of the trickier textured knitting stitches on our list, but it sure does help that both written and video tutorials are available. If you’re familiar with using an extra needle to work cable stitches, then you’re already part way there!
Designer: Knitting Unlimited
Yarn: None Specified
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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4. Alternating Welted Leaf
There are an endless number of ways to combine knit and purl stitches to create all sorts of designs, but the Alternating Welted Leaf is one of my favorites. The knitting stitch pattern repeat is surprisingly easy to memorize and the knitting itself is exquisitely repetitive and relaxing. Perfect for a nice night spent knitting and watching TV!
Designer: Knit and Purl Stitches
Yarn: None Specified
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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5. Lotus Flower Stitch
Ok, who’s ready for a more advanced addition to our list of textured knitting stitches? The lotus flower stitch is a highly decorative stitch that really adds something special to any design. The solid surface makes it well suited to cute and cozy accessories like fingerless gloves. The stitch tutorial involves working multiple stitches together and making stitches.
Designer: Craft Cookie
Yarn: None Specified
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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6. Mock Cable
Beginner knitters – this one’s for you! If you have gotten discouraged with trying to learn how to knit cable stitches, then give the Mock Cable stitch a try. You can fake it til you make it with just knit and purl stitches. Yes, really! I love this easy trick for knitting faux cables and I think it would be really cute as an ear warmer.
Designer: Knitting on the Net
Yarn: None Specified
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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7. Texture Stitch
When I was researching textured knitting stitches for this post, I came across one called Texture Stitch. Naturally, I just had to include it in the list! I like how the surface of the textured pattern looks interesting and complex, but it’s actually quite easy! You can make it with just knit, purl and slip stitches.
Designer: New Stitch a Day
Yarn: None Specified
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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8. Seed Stitch
Seed stitch is a classic (and very popular) textured stitch that is used in a wide variety of knitting patterns. This basic knitting stitch is perfect for a beginner knitter and it’s definitely worth adding to your list! The subtle texture is easy to recreate with just knit and purl stitches. The best part is that the seed stitch pattern is reversible so it’s great for a pattern such as a baby blanket!
Designer: Sheep and Stitch
Yarn: None Specified
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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9. Broken Rib Stitch
If you need to add a section of stitching with lots of stretch (like cuffs on socks for example) then rib stitch is the way to go. There are all different sorts of knitting rib stitches, but I really like the unique and interesting look of the Broken Rib Stitch. The stitch pattern calls for just knit and purl stitches and it features an easy to remember two row repeat.
Designer: Nimble Needles
Yarn: None Specified
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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10. Long-Slip Textured
Just wow! I absolutely love the look of the next one of our textured knitting stitches. A lot of the more decorative stitches are advanced, so it’s nice to find one that’s not too tricky! You’ll use knit, purl and slip stitches to form this stunning sea of texture. I think it looks like a lattice, or like diagonal rows of diamonds.
Designer: Knitting Stitch Patterns
Yarn: None Specified
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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11. Rice Stitch
Have you heard of the rice stitch before? This stitch pattern calls for just knit and purl stitches. You should also be familiar with knitting through the backs of stitches. While not reversible, the wrong side of the rice stitch actually looks quite nice (it resembles a ribbed stitch) so you don’t have to worry about hiding it.
Designer: Knitting Naturally
Yarn: None Specified
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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12. The Bee Stitch
People will be buzzing over the beautiful projects you knit with the bee stitch! This textured and eye-catching stitch produces a solid surface that is well suited to warm and cozy items like blankets. The technique calls for knit stitches and knit 1 below stitches. That’s right – there’s no purl stitches!
Designer: Lindys Knit Laces
Yarn: None Specified
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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13. Flight of the Bumblebee
While we’re on the subjects of buzzing, take a gander at our next great stitch pattern! The Flight of the Bumblebee Stitch easily wins the prize for best knitting stitch name. The tutorial calls for knit and purl stitches along with knit long stitches. It’s a daunting 8 row repeat, but 6 of those 8 are just “purl all stitches” and “knit all stitches” so it’s really not too bad.
Designer: Knitting Stitch Patterns
Yarn: None Specified
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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14. Herringbone Texture Stitch
Well hello there! I am totally loving this Herringbone Texture Stitch. It really has that “wow factor”, don’t you think? The tutorial calls for just knit and purl stitches, but it’s better suited to beginners with a few projects under their belt already. You should be very familiar with recognizing the difference between knit and purl stitches.
Designer: Craft Elf
Yarn: None Specified
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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15. Knotted Openwork
It turns out that you can have it both ways (texture and lace) with the pretty Knotted Openwork stitches. I think this would be a really nice, breathable stitch for warm weather wearables like a light cardigan. The stitch pattern involves knit, purl, yarn over, and passing stitches over. It has a 3 stitch and 4 row repeat.
Designer: Easy to Knit
Yarn: None Specified
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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16. Daisy Flower
Wow, I wish more textured knitting stitches would show their tutorials in a variegated yarn, because this is simply stunning! I love the way that the daisy flower stitch forms diagonal ridges of texture. It really is such a pretty stitch pattern! The tutorial is best suited to more experienced knitters as it involves more advanced techniques.
Designer: KnittingStitches.org
Yarn: None Specified
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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17. Andalusian Stitch
The andalusian stitch is stockinette with a twist! So, if you’ve already mastered the stockinette stitch then be sure to give this new and easy knitting stitch a try. It’s a 4 row repeat that alternates between rows where you knit everything, rows where you purl everything, and rows where you alternate between knit and purl stitches. See? It’s easy!
Designer: Don’t Be Such a Square
Yarn: None Specified
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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18. Pangolin Scales
A pangolin is a mammal native to southern Africa. It is also sometimes referred to as a scaled anteater, which gives you a better idea of how it looks! This knitting stitch really does look a bit like pangolin scales, and I love the rice texture, The tutorial calls for knit and purl stitches along with yarn overs and passing stitches over.
Designer: Crazy Hands Knitting and Crochet
Yarn: None Specified
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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19. Waffle Stitch
This stitch pattern is just like waffles (without all the carbs and syrup). The nostalgic look and solid surface is perfect for cozy around the house knits like blankets and sweaters. While not truly reversible, both sides of the work look nice and both resemble waffles, making it perfect for a blanket pattern or other two-sided item. There’s no fancy stitchwork here – just knit and purl!
Designer: So Wooly
Yarn: None Specified
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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20. Chevron Seed Stitch
Purl stitch ridges form a striking chevron design on a stockinette stitch background in the stunning Chevron Seed Stitch. This trendy geometric design is so eye-catching and it would really look nice in a wide variety of knitting projects. This stitch pattern is made entirely with knit and purl stitches in a 4 row repeat.
Designer: I Knit with Cat Fur
Yarn: Cascade 128 Superwash (Worsted Weight Yarn #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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21. Hurdle Stitch
In the hurdle stitch pattern, rows of knit stitches take turns with rows that alternate between knit and purl stitches. The resulting texture is quite unique, and it looks much harder to recreate than it actually is. Rest assured, all your knitting friends will be clamoring to know what this delightful stitch is called as soon as you unveil your newest project.
Designer: Love Life Yarn
Yarn: None Specified
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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22. King Charles Brocade
A brocade is defined as “a rich fabric woven with a raised pattern.” So you see, the King Charles Brocade stitch really is fit for royalty! With just knit and purl stitches you can make this textured knitting stitch. This stitch pattern features a raised diamond lattice design made with seed stitch set against a stockinette stitch background.
Designer: KnittingStitchPatterns.com
Yarn: None Specified
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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23. Slipped Hourglass
Time is running out on our textured knitting stitches round-up, just like sand slipping through an hourglass. The Slipped Hourglass stitch has a really pleasing and repetitive look that I think would be especially nice for a shawl or a light throw. You can recreate this stitch pattern using knit, purl and 3 kinds of slip stitches – regular, right slip, and left slip.
Designer: KnittingStitchPatterns.com
Yarn: None Specified
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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24. Tear Drop
Don’t be sad, it’s just a stitch! The distinctive texture of the tear drop stitch is easy to spot thanks to its signature shape. This stitch pattern uses some techniques that are a little trickier like passing stitches over, and knitting stitches together. You don’t have to be a knitting wizard to get the hang of it, though, maybe just a bit further along than a beginner!
Designer: KnittingStitchPatterns.com
Yarn: None Specified
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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25. Eyelet Mock Cable
Here’s another way to get that coveted cabled look without all the extra fuss. You can make this mock cable with knit, purl, and slipped stitch along with passed over stitches. There’s also some yarn overs thrown in there to make the eyelets. This stitch pattern is sure to keep you engaged in whatever you’re making!
Designer: Stitch in Progress
Yarn: None Specified
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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26. Bamboo Stitch
The bamboo stitch is a wonderfully easy textured knit stitch that is just a two row repeat! Using only basic knit stitch, purl stitch and yarn overs, you can make this great textured stitch.
Designer: Love.Life.Yarn
Yarn: Scheepjes Chunky Monkey (Weight #5)
Click here for this easy knit stitch!
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Now the question is….what beautiful projects will you make with all these wonderfully textured knitting stitches?! I would love to hear all about them in the comments below. Also, feel free to chime in with the names of other textured knitting stitches you have tried and loved.
Don’t forget, sharing is caring! Send this free knitting pattern round-up to all your knitting friends so they can join in on the fun too! Bookmark this page or save the link to your Pinterest board for amazing knitting patterns.
I’ll see you next week for another free knitting pattern round-up. Make sure to follow the blog so you never miss a post. <3
Happy Knitting!
Amanda
These are beautiful and so convenient in one place.
I wonder about the picture on #16. It is the same as #17.
Thank you.