How to Knit the Half Linen Stitch

Half linen stitch isn’t difficult to knit, and it creates an interesting fabric that looks and behaves almost like woven fabric. Half linen stitch resists vertical stretching, so it’s great for bags or belts or larger garments like a coat. The edges of half linen stitch do roll, but you can easily fix this with a three-or five-stitch border in seed stitch.

To work half linen stitch knitting flat on an odd number of stitches:

1. Cast on and purl 1 row.

2. Follow this stitch pattern:

   Row 1 (RS): *K1, bring yarn to front and sl 1 st purlwise, bring yarn to back, repeat from * to last st, k1.

   To slip a stitch purlwise, insert the needle into the stitch as if to purl, and then slide it over to the right-hand needle. But remember that you don’t purl the stitch. Instead, you simply move it from one needle to the other, carrying the yarn along the front of the stitch as you do.

   Row 2: Purl.

   Row 3: K2, *bring yarn to front, sl 1 st, bring yarn to back, k1, repeat from * to last st, k1.

   Row 4: Purl.

   Repeat these 4 rows for the pattern.

To work half linen stitch in the round on an even number of stitches:

1. Cast on and knit 1 round.

2. Follow this stitch pattern:

   Round 1: *K1, bring yarn to front, sl 1, bring yarn to back, repeat from * to end of round.

   Round 2: Knit.

   Round 3: *Bring yarn to front, sl 1, bring yarn to back, k1, repeat from * to end of round.

   Round 4: Knit.