The easy way to Kitchener Stitch
The Kitchener stitch is a technique for seamlessly joining two sets of live stitches together without creating a ridge. It is essentially a set of sewing steps often used to close up the toes of socks, for shoulder seams, or the tops of mittens. However, it can be used any time you need to seam two sets of live stitches together.
I love the result, but I always find it hard to remember the steps. I know there are mantras and chants, but I still find it difficult. My solution? Work a couple of rows in a scrap yarn of different color, and let that yarn show you the way!
An alternative to Kitchener Stitch: The easy way
Step 1: Cut your working yarn, leaving a tail at least three times as long as the section you need to graft.
Step 2: Work a couple of rows on both sides with a scrap yarn. To make this technique easier, choose a very different color. Since you will remove the needles, I like to work several rows to feel safe.
Step 3: Remove the needles and arrange both pieces (with the same number of stitches on each) so that the purl sides are facing each other.
Step 4: On the bottom piece, pull your tapestry needle through the first stitch as if to purl (from back to front).
Step 5: Move to the back piece, and follow the path of scrap yarn: insert the needle from back to front onto the first stitch and from front to back into the next stitch.
Step 6: Move to the front piece and to the first stitch again, and insert the needle from front to back and onto the next stitch from back to front.
Repeat steps 5 and 6 until the end of the row. When you reach the last stitches, insert the needle through the front piece's last stitch from front to back.
Remove scrap yarn by pulling and let the magic happen! ✨