What's that stitch? Moss stitch

After thinking seed stitch was another name for moss stitch depending which country you are from I learnt a while ago that moss stitch looks completely different,  the stitch pattern is similar though.

[Start of image description for image above: a photo of a wooden table with a moss stitch square knitted in orange yarn.  On top of the photo at the top is a white rectangle with the words "What's that stitch". Underneath is a sage green rectangle with two white stripes and the words "moss stitch" and the words "Cozy Woodland Cottage Knits. blogspot.com. End of image description.]

[Start of image description: A close up of an orange moss stitch square with a white rectangle at the top inside is the words "What's that stitch".  Underneath is a sage green background with the words "Moss stitch is an easy stitch for beginners Row 1: K1, P1, Row 2: K1, P1. Row 3: P1, K1. Row 4: P1, K1." End of image description.]  

What is moss stitch?

Moss stitch creates an interesting pattern, which until a while ago I had never knitted . It is quite easy to knit and is suitable for a beginner that knows how to knit and purl. It is also called Irish moss stitch. Moss stitch looks like an elongated version of seed stitch, with alternating raised stitches. Below are a few photos of what moss stitch looks like and the texture of this stitch.

[Start of image description: a close up on an orange moss stitch square which shows the texture and how the stitches look. End of image description.] 

How do you do moss stitch?

To do moss stitch cast on an even number of stitches eg, 10, 12, 14, 16

Row 1: K1, P1 
Row 2: K1, P1

Row 3: P1, K1

Row 4: P1, K1

Tips for doing moss stitch

• To keep track of the row mark the row repeats on paper or keep a track of the rows using a row counter. 
• You can add moss stitch for pretty much any project as its a versatile stitch. 
• Make sure you don't confuse this stitch with seed stitch which is similar too. 
• If you cast off too tightly use a stretchy cast off.
• Have fun knitting this stitch and/or learning how to do this stitch.

[Start of image description: a knitted orange square knitted in moss stitch with a garter stitch border on a wooden table. End of image description.]

How to make your own patchwork square

You need to know how to:

• Cast on 
• Cast off
• Knit
• Purl 

Knitting abbreviations

K - knit
P - purl
Knitting abbreviations - Free printable knitting abbreviations sheet

You will need:

• 5mm knitting needles
• DK/8ply
• 25 grams of yarn (75.5 yards/69 metres) 
• Row counter (If you do not have a row counter you can use pen and paper).

Gauge:

10x10cm

18 stitches and 28 rows

If its too big go down a needle size and if it's too small go up a needle size. 

Gauge is in stocking stitch (knit 1 row, purl the next row)

Pattern:

Cast on 40 stitches

Row 1: Knit

Row 2: Knit

Row 3: Knit

Row 4: Knit

Row 5: K1, P1
Row 6: K1, P1

Row 7: P1, K1

Row 8: P1, K1

Row 9: K1, P1

Row 10: K1, P1

Row 11: P1, K1

Row 12: P1, K1

Row 13:K1, P1

Row 14: K1, P1

Row 15: K1, P1
Row 16: K1, P1

Row 17: P1, K1

Row 18: P1, K1

Row 19: K1, P1

Row 20: K1, P1

Row 21: K1, P1
Row 22: K1, P1

Row 23: P1, K1

Row 24: P1, K1

Row 25: K1, P1

Row 26: K1, P1

Row 27: P1, K1

Row 28: P1, K1

Row 29:K1, P1

Row 30: K1, P1

Row 31: K1, P1
Row 32: K1, P1

Row 33: P1, K1

Row 34: P1, K1

Row 35: K1, P1

Row 36: K1, P1

Row 37: P1, K1

Row 38: P1, K1

Row 39: Knit

Row 40: Knit

Row 41: Knit

Row 42: Knit

Cast off 

[Start of image description: an orange moss stitch square with a garter stitch border with a pair of knitting needles on top of it. It is sitting on top of a wooden table. End of image description.]

You could use your square to make:

• a blanket 
• a cotton dishcloth
• a cotton facecloth.
• a patchwork blanket using our what's that stitch post. 
• a scarf 

What can you make using moss stitch?

Using moss stitch you could create knitted:

• Blankets
• Scarves
• Facecloths
• Cowls
• Beanies
• Hot water bottle cover.

Have fun learning how to do moss stitch and making a project using this stitch, a new stitch in the stitch series what's that stitch will be posted next month.

Free printable handy stitch cards

We have made you a free printable bobble handy stitch card for you, you could keep this in your knitting bag/basket, punch a hole and it on a key ring or get a piece of string and tie it onto the card. There is two bobble stitch handy stitch cards to choose from a sage green background or a white background, each has how to do mock rib stitch on the back of the card.

Free printable handy stitch card in White 

Free printable handy stitch card in Sage Green

[Start of image description: A sage green background with a photo at the top centre. The photo is of a wooden table with an orange stitch square that has a garter stitch boarder around it  Underneath is two white stripes and then a white rectangle with the words "what's that stitch?" and at the bottom is the words "Moss Stitch" and the words "cozy woodland cottage knits. blogspot .com. End of image description.]

[Start of image description: A white background with a photo at the top centre. The photo is of a wooden table with an orange square that has a garter stitch boarder around it  Underneath is two brown stripes and then a brown rectangle with the words "what's that stitch?" and at the bottom is the words "Moss Stitch" and the words "cozy woodland cottage knits. blogspot .com. End of image description.]

If you loved this post please pin!

[Start of image description: an orange moss stitch square on a wooden table at the top is a white rectangle with the words "what's that stitch?".  Underneath is a sage green background with two white stripes and the words "moss stitch. End of image description.]

Thank you for visiting Cozy Woodland Cottage Knits!

Have fun learning how to do basket stitch and making a project using this stitch. Don't forget to download your free printable basket stitch cards. Check our stitch library What's that stitch? for more stitch pattern posts like this one. 

[Start of image description: Arjaye's signature with two toadstools in between the letter j and the letter y. Next to it is a fairy with blue hair, a green wreath headband, blue lips and yellow wigs, she is wearing a sage green dress. The fairy sitting on top of a yellow toadstool with blue dots and blue underneath the toadstool. Next to the fairy is a black cat holding a turquoise ball of yarn. End of image description.]

Related posts

Garter ridge stitch - Tutorial like this one 

Waffle stitch - Tutorial like this one 

Chevron seed stitch - Tutorial like this one 

Purl ridges - Tutorial like this one 

Pique rib - Tutorial like this one 

Oblique rib - Tutorial like this one 

Hurdle stitch - Tutorial like this one 

What's that stitch? - Page of photos and links to all posts in the what's that stitch series.
Knitting abbreviations - Free printable knitting abbreviations cheat sheet in downloadable pdf file
Free printable knitting sheets - Free printable handy knitting sheets all in downloadable pdf files