What's that stitch - Bamboo stitch

Welcome to what's that stitch series!

This is quite a versatile stitch that could be used for quite a few different projects.  Learn what bamboo stitch is, how to do bamboo stitch and a few project ideas for using this stitch along with our handy stitch cards. 

[Start of image description: A photo of an orange bamboo stitch square with a border around it. On the top is a white rectangle at the top of the photo "What is that stitch?" Underneath is a sage green square with two white stripes and the words "Bamboo stitch".

What is bamboo stitch?

The yarn forward done in the bamboo stitch creates texture that looks a bit like a piece of bamboo. The stitch is quite a versatile and could be used for a number of different projects for both men's and women's knits. 

[Start of image description:  a photo of an orange knitted bamboo stitch square with a ball of orange yarn and pair of needles. . In the middle is a sage green rectangle with the words "What's that stitch?Bamboo stitch. Underneath is a close up of an orange knitted bamboo stitch square. End of image description.]

What does bamboo stitch look like?

Bamboo stitch looks like pieces of bamboo, this first one I knitted a bit too tight so it's pulled in a bit and the second one has been knitted looser. Below is also a close up of the knitted texture of the bamboo stitch.

[Start of image description: a wooden table with a blue bamboo stitch square that has been knitted too tight. End of image description.]

[Start of image description: a wooden table with an orange bamboo stitch square that has been knitted looser. End of image description.]

How do you do bamboo stitch?

To do the bamboo stitch you cast on in multiples of 2, it is done in two simple rows. 

Abbreviations

• Yfd - Yarn forward
• M1 - Make 1 sitch

You may find these tutorials helpful

• Yfd (Yarn forward) or see How to do yfd in 5 easy steps
• Pass stitch over or see How to pass slipped stitch over 
• please note this the same only you are:
• passing the yarn forward over instead.
• passing the yarn forward over 2 stitches. 

Row 1: Yfd to m1, k2, pass m1 over k2
Row 2: Purl

Repeat these two rows

Tips for doing bamboo stitch

• To keep track of the row mark the row repeats on paper or keep a track of the rows using a row counter. 
• Remember to make sure you're not knitting tightly especially when pass m1 over k2.
• Make sure you remember to Yfd to m1.
• You need to make sure you have an even number of stitches and have cast on multiples of 2 so the pattern comes out ok.  
• 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 wooden table with a knitted orange bamboo stitch square. End of image description.]

How to make your own patchwork square

You need to know how to:

• Cast on 
• Cast off
• Knit
• Purl 

To do the bamboo stitch you cast on in multiples of 2, it is done in two simple rows. 

Abbreviations

• Yfd - Yarn forward
• M1 - Make 1 sitch

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 it is 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)

[Start of image description: A wooden table with a yellow knitted seed stitch square with a garter stitch border around it. End of image description.]

Pattern:

Cast on 40 stitches

WS (Wrong Side) Row 1: Knit

Row 2: Knit

Row 3: Knit

Row 4: Knit

Row 5: Yfd to m1, k2, pass m1 over k2

Row 6: Purl

Row 7: Yfd to m1, k2, pass m1 over k2

Row 8: Purl

Row 9: Yfd to m1, k2, pass m1 over k2

Row 10: Purl

Row 11: Yfd to m1, k2, pass m1 over k2

Row 12: Purl

Row 13: Yfd to m1, k2, pass m1 over k2

Row 14: Purl

Row 15: Yfd to m1, k2, pass m1 over k2

Row 16: Purl

Row 17: Yfd to m1, k2, pass m1 over k2

Row 18: Purl

Row 19: Yfd to m1, k2, pass m1 over k2

Row 20: Purl

Row 21: Yfd to m1, k2, pass m1 over k2

Row 22: Purl

Row 23: Yfd to m1, k2, pass m1 over k2

Row 24: Purl

Row 25: Yfd to m1, k2, pass m1 over k2

Row 26: Purl

Row 27: Yfd to m1, k2, pass m1 over k2

Row 28: Purl

Row 29: Yfd to m1, k2, pass m1 over k2

Row 30: Purl

Row 31: Yfd to m1, k2, pass m1 over k2

Row 32: Purl

Row 33: Yfd to m1, k2, pass m1 over k2

Row 34: Purl

Row 35: Yfd to m1, k2, pass m1 over k2

Row 36: Purl

Row 37: Yfd to m1, k2, pass m1 over k2

Row 38: Purl

Row 39: Yfd to m1, k2, pass m1 over k2

Row 40: Purl

Row 41: Yfd to m1, k2, pass m1 over k2

Row 42: Purl

Row 43: Knit

Row 44: Knit

Row 45: Knit

Row 46: Knit

Cast off 

[Start of image description: an orange bamboo stitch square with a garter stitch border with a ball of orange yarn pair of knitting needles next to it. All items are 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 bamboo stitch?

You could make almost anything using bamboo stitch from gloves, jumpers, cardigans, scarves, socks, blanket or a facecloth as it is quite a versatile stitch.

Free printable handy stitch cards

We have made you a free printable tile stitch 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 are two tile stitch handy stitch cards to choose from a sage green background or a white background, each has how to do tile 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 white background with a photo at the top centre.  The photo is of a wooden table with an orange bamboo stitch vertical with a garter stitch border 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 "Bamboo Stitch" and the words "cozy woodland cottage knits. blogspot .com. End of image description.]

[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 bamboo stitch vertical square that has a garter stitch border around it and a ball of orange yarn and needles. Underneath is two white stripes and then a white rectangle with the words "what's that stitch?" and at the bottom is the words "Bamboo 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: a photo of an orange knitted bamboo stitch square. On top of the photo is a white rectangle with the words "What's that stitch?".  Underneath is a sage green rectangle with the words "bamboo 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 handy 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

How to do yfd in 5 easy stepsHow to pass slipped stitch over 

What's that stitch serries

Knitting stitches