Free Video: How to Knit Backward
It’s a bit easier to do this trick Continental-style than American/English style, but in this tutorial I show you both ways to knit backward.
How to Knit Backward American- or Continental-Style
Free Video: How to Knit Backward
Step-by-Step Instructions: How to Knit Backward
First: Continental-Style
1. When your pattern says to turn your work, don’t. The stitches to be worked will be on your right-hand needle.
2. Tension the yarn in your left hand for Continental-style.
3. Insert the left-hand needle from back to front through the leading leg of the first stitch on the right-hand needle, as shown. The working yarn should be in front of (between you and) the left needle.
4. With your left index finger, bring the working yarn across to the needle tip.
5. Use your right thumb to bring the yarn under the needle-tip.
6. Let the working yarn cross under and across the back of the needle-tip.
7. With the needle-tip, push the working yarn through the middle of the stitch.
8. Push the yarn through the stitch. The left needle-tip goes under the right needle.
9. Remove the stitch from the right-hand needle; stitch is now on left-hand needle.
10. Push the left needle fully through the stitch.
11. To knit again, insert the left needle-tip from back to front through the next stitch on the right-hand needle.
12. Use your right thumb to guide the working yarn across the needle-tip.
13. Release the working yarn so that it dips under the left needle-tip.
14. Push the working yarn through the stitch and bring the new stitch off the right-hand needle and onto the left-hand needle.
15. The second completed knit stitch.
How to Knit Backwards American-Style
1. Tension the yarn in your right hand.
2. Insert the needle from back to front through the leading leg of the next stitch on the right-hand needle. Yarn is between you and the needles.
3. Bring the working yarn across to the inserted needle-tip, underneath the loop.
4. Bring the working yarn up under the left needle-tip.
5. Use your left hand to hold the working yarn tightly behind the needle-tip.
6. Push the working yarn through the stitch.
7. The left needle-tip goes under the right-hand needle.
8. The finished knit stitch.
How to Check That You Are Doing it Right (Both Styles)
1. Turn your work.
2. Examine the stitches you’ve created on the right-hand needle. They should look like the photo here.
3. Knit the next stitch so you can be sure you know what a correct knit stitch looks like.
4. Compare the stitch you just knit normally with the ones you created backward. They should look the same.
5. The correct orientation for completed knit stitches. The leading leg (the leg closest the needle-tip) is in back. The stitch is not twisted in any way.
…and there you have it! Now you can knit backward without turning your work if you ever don’t feel like it. This works great for Garter stitch. For other applications where you want to knit on the front and purl on the back without turning, see purl backwards.
Family Photos/News
KnitFreedom readers are so lovely in that they ask about what’s going on in my personal life, so here are a few photos.
Also a few notes about upcoming KnitFreedom classes and tutorials:
I’ve just put the finishing touches on our new Dog Sweater class which I will be officially launching soon, but is actually available now.
I’ve also just knit one of my fun 5-petal moebius bowls in preparation for a new video class, Felted Moebius Bowl! This is a very quick knit with tons of great techniques that I’m excited to teach.Personally, I’ve been working on making my house a home with an amazing Feng Shui consultant to help me know what changes are most impactful to make. I might show some before-and-after photos one of these days!
Hugs,
Liat
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Have any questions? Are you excited to try knitting backward? Leave a comment and let me know!
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18 thoughts on “How to Knit Backwards”
I’m doing a ten stitch blanket at the moment, and have often thought it would be easier if I could knit backwards.
It’s in garter stitch though. It that possible backwards?
Thanks for all the tips.
Anne
Yes, that’s exactly what this technique is intended for! Knitting garter stitch over very few stitches is perfect for knitting backwards. Try it!!
Liat Gat
KnitFreedom.com
This great; thanks for showing both styles.
Thank you so much for giving these free tutorials, I have been knitting for many many years but still find these useful, there’s always something to learn. Thanks again.
Hi Liz,
I’m going to be passing your comment along to Liat, but I want to let you know that she is currently on maternity leave (she is expecting her baby very soon) and will be taking up to 1-2 weeks to answer.
Thanks so much for your patience and understanding!
Best,
Elias
Hooray! I’m so delighted these are helpful to you. Thank you for letting me know!
It turns out that the youtube video named Knit Backwards that I mentioned actually demos purling b/w. Did not find the one for knitting b/w. Is there one?
Hi Lear,
I’m going to be passing your question along to Liat, but I want to let you know that she is currently on maternity leave (she is expecting her baby very soon) and will be taking up to 1-2 weeks to answer.
Thanks so much for your patience and understanding!
Best,
Elias
Hi there, so sorry about that! Yes, there is a video for knitting backwards – here it is: https://www.knitfreedom.com/blog/knit-backwards/
I hope this helps!
Liat Gat
The video demonstrating how to knit backwards is not coming up on the KnitFreedom site. Thought you’d like to know. ;) However, I did find your video here: https://youtu.be/0h72xZoGp6o
Best to you, Liat!
very important skill. Thanks
That’s was great! Purling backward might be good to show us too! Hint hint
Hi Debbie,
Sorry I missed your comment before! Here is the link for purling backwards: https://www.knitfreedom.com/blog/purl-backwards
Liat – I love the pics, thanks! I had never seen a banana stalk in development. Milo is so adorable. Jackfruit is rather popular of late here but I haven’t tried it. I’ll have to now and discover what Milo loves about it ;-))
Hi Marla! There is unripe jackfruit that is available in cans there that people use as a meat substitute – I think that’s so interesting and have never been able to try it. Here they sell the ripe fruit (opened up and separated into edible pieces – the entire fruit weighs easily 5-10 pounds) which has a very “fruity” smell that some people can’t get past. We add it to our smoothies in the morning.
What a little cutie — he reminds me of my 3 year-old grandnephew. I’m so envious — you have fresh tropical fruit available! I’ll never forget my first trip to Mexico & eating a fruit salad. Bananas and papayas ripened on the tree taste completely different from the picked-green, artificially-ripened fruit we get in the stores here. Enjoy!
It’s so true! We have an absolute glut of papayas, mangos (during the season), yaca, pineapple, and guava that are as ripe as can be. Did you know that the best varieties of mangos don’t even get exported? The skin is too delicate. Only the burly “bola” mangos make it across the border. Here we enjoy Ataulfo, Perico, and other varieties that ripen at different times during the season. I may take some photos next time we go to Carlos’ family’s ranch and share here on the blog. Hugs!!
What a cutie you have there. Take care and stay safe. Thank you for all you do for us. Linda