What's that stitch - sand stitch

Welcome to what's that stitch series! Come and learn how to do sand stitch. Sand stitch creates a reversible stitch pattern that looks great on both side.  The right side is bit like a rib stitch while the back looks as though there are little stars on every 2nd stitch.  Learn what this stitch is, how to do sand stitch and get few project ideas for using this stitch.

[Start of image description for image above: A photo of two yellow sand stitch square on a wooden table. One has been knitted with a border and the other one has been knitted without a boarder. On top of the photo is a white rectangle with the words "What's that stitch". Underneath is a sage green rectangle with two white stripes at the top and has the words "Sand stitch" underneath is the words "cozy woodland cottage knits .blogspot .com". End of image description.]

[Start of image description: A yellow sand square on a wooden table. Under it is a sage green rectangle with a red border and the words "What's that stitch? Sand stitch by Cozy Woodland Cottage Knits".  At the bottom is a close up of the yellow sand stitch square showing the little stars. End of image description.]  

What is Sand stitch?

For sand stitch the stitches on the right side create a rib like texture while the wrong side creates a texture that looks like little stars every second stitch - they remind me of star fish a little bit.  I love how this stitch has a reversible side you could also use.  This stitch only uses knit and purl stitches so is perfect for a beginner knitter. 

What does sand stitch look like?

The right side looks a bit like rib stitch and the wrong side looks like alternating stars.  Below is a close up of what sand stitch looks like and the texture of this reversible stitch, for both the right side and wrong side.

This photo shows the right side with the rib like texture:

[Start of image description: A close up of the yellow sand stitch square showing the sand stitch. End of image description.]

The photo below shows the wrong side and the star texture every second row.

[Start of image description: A close up of the yellow sand stitch square showing the little stars every 2nd stitch. End of image description.]

 How do you do sand stitch?

To do sand stitch you only need to know how to:

• Knit
• Purl

Knitting abbreviations

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

To do sand stitch 

Cast on multiples of 2 eg, 2, 4, 6, 8
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: *K1, P1 repeat from*
Repeat these two rows

[Start of image description: A photo of a yellow sand stitch square for a patchwork blanket on a wooden table. End of image description.] 

Free printable handy stitch cards

We have made you a free printable sand 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 is two sand stitch cards to choose from a sage green background or a white background, each has how to do sand 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 picture of a wooden table with a yellow sand stitch square at the top centre. Underneath is two white stripes and then a white rectangle with the words "what's that stitch?" and at the bottom is the words "sand stitch" and the words "cozy woodland cottage knits. blogspot .com. End of image description.]

[Start of image description: A white background with a picture of a wooden table with a yellow sand stitch square at the top centre. Underneath is two brown stripes and then a brown rectangle with the words "what's that stitch?" and at the bottom is the words "sand stitch" and the words "cozy woodland cottage knits. blogspot .com. End of image description.]

What can you make using sand stitch?

Using sand stitch you could knit a cardigan, blanket, scarves, snoods, beanies, a facecloth or a cushion cover, dishcloth or use this stitch instead of rib for cuffs and neckbands. Below is how you can make your own patchwork square. 

[Start of image description: A photo of two yellow sand stitch squares on a wooden table. One has been knitted with a boarder and one has been knitted without the border around it. End of image description.]

How to make your own patchwork square

You need to know how to:

• Cast on and off
• Knit
• Purl 

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).

Tips:

• 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 use either side of sand stitch for a project as it has a reversible design that looks great on both sides.
• If you cast off too tightly use a stretchy cast off

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: Knit

Row 6: K4, *K1, P1 repeat from* till last 4 stitches and K4

Repeat from row 5- row 6 18 times (19 times in total)

Row 39: Knit

Row 40: Knit

Row 41: Knit

Row 42: Knit

Cast off

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

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

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[Start of image description for image above: A photo of a yellow sand stitch square with a garter stitch border around it on a wooden table. Underneath is a sage green rectangle with two white stripes at the top and has a white rectangle with the words "What's that stitch" with the words "Sand stitch" at the bottom is the words "cozy woodland cottage knits .blogspot .com". End of image description.]

Related Posts

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