Category Archives: Tutorial Series

Tutorial Series: Slipping Stitches (Knitwise versus Purlwise)

Posted in October 2025, Slipping Stitches (Knitwise versus Purlwise), Tutorial Series by

Slipped Stitches are stitches that have not been worked (knitted or purled) with the working yarn. These stitches are just transferred from the left knitting needle to the right knitting needle. The stitches can be slipped to the right knitting needle either knitwise or purlwise. A knit pattern will usually specify how the stitches are to be slipped. Otherwise the default is to slip stitches purlwise. Below is a garter stitch sample with stitches slipped either knitwise or purlwise on the right side. These slipped stitches are then purled on the wrong side of the work. There is some difference in how the stitches look when slipped knitwise versus when they are slipped purlwise.


Slipped stitches can be used at the end of the row to create a neat border edge. The Hydrangea Dishcloth is one example where I’ve used slipped stitches at the end of the rows. The Knotted Dishcloth also uses slipped stitches for a neat border edge. Slipped stitches are used to create textured patterns in knitting. The Dotted Dishcloth is an example where slipped stitches create a textured knit stitch pattern. The Light Unexpected Find Wrap as well as The Unexpected Find Wrap also uses the same technique. Slipped stitches are also used in colorwork knitting such as mosaic knitting. An example of slipped stitches in colorwork knitting is The Brick and Mortar Dishcloth.

The video and written instructions below show how to slip stitches knitwise and purlwise for right-hand knitting.

Slipping Stitches (Knitwise):


Slipping Stitches (Knitwise) written instructions:

  • Insert the right knitting needle from back to front in the front loop of the first stitch on the left knitting needle
  • Holding the stitch with the right needle, slip the first stitch off the left knitting needle and onto the right knitting needle

Slipping Stitches (Purlwise):


Slipping Stitches (Purlwise) written instructions:

  • Insert the right knitting needle from front to back in the front loop of the first stitch on the left knitting needle
  • Holding the stitch with the right knitting needle, slip the stitch off the left knitting needle and onto the right knitting needle

Leave a comment below on how you use slipped stitches in your knitting

~coffeeteaknits.com

© Coffee Tea Knits. All text and images for personal use only. All Rights Reserved.

Tutorial Series: Double Vertical Decrease (S2kp)

Posted in Double Vertical Decrease (S2kp), Tutorial Series by

In the double vertical decrease (S2kp), two stitches are decreased by slipping 2 stitches knitwise. Then, the next stitch is knit. Finally, the 2 slipped stitches are passed over the knitted stitch. This double vertical decrease is used for shaping in knitting. I used this technique in the Hydrangea Dishcloth and in the With a Twist Dishcloth. I like this method for the mitered square shaped dishcloths. The double decrease creates a straight vertical knit stitch when used in the center of the work. The video and written instructions below show how to do a double vertical decrease (s2kp) for right-hand knitting.


The Double Vertical Decrease (S2kp):



Steps to make a Double Vertical Decrease (S2kp):

1. Insert the right knitting needle into the front of second and then the first stitch as if to knit 2 together
2. Slip the 2 stitches off the left knitting needle and onto the right knitting needle

3. The 2 slipped stitches are now on the right knitting needle
4. Knit the next stitch from the left knitting needle onto the right knitting needle
5. Insert the the left knitting needle into the front loop on the 2 slipped stitches
6. Catch and hold the 2 slipped stitches onto the left knitting needle
7. Pass the 2 held slipped stitches on the left knitting needle over the knitted stitch on the right knitting needle
8. The double vertical decrease (slip 2 stitches, knit 2, pass the slipped stitch over the knitted stitch) is now on the right knitting needle
9. Tug the working yarn to tighten the double vertical decrease stitch


Repeat Steps 1 through 9 for the double vertical decrease (s2kp)

~coffeeteaknits.com

© Coffee Tea Knits. All text and images for personal use only. All Rights Reserved.

Tutorial Series: The Basic Knit Bind Off

Posted in June 2025, The Basic Knit Bind Off by

The live stitches on a knitting needle of a knitted piece are secured with a bind off row. This is also the last row. There are many bind off techniques. Some examples include the basic knit bind off, the stretchy bind off and the crochet bind off. Other examples include the picot bind off, the Icelandic bind off and so on. The basic knit method is the most common bind off method. In this technique, the first knitted stitch on the right knitting needle is passed over the second knitted stitch. This basic knit bind off is my favorite for blankets, dishcloths etc. since I can easily pick up the stitches to make a more decorative crochet or knitted border edge. I use knitting needles a size or two larger for the basic knit bind off. This makes the stitches easier to pick up for a border edge. The video and written instructions below for the basic knit bind off method are for right-hand knitting.

The Basic Knit Bind Off:


Written instructions for Basic Knit Bind Off Method:

  1. Knit (Tutorial Series: Knit and Tink) the first 2 stitches at beginning of the row
  2. Pass the first stitch knitted over the second stitch on the right hand knitting needle
  3. Slip the passed stitch off the right knitting needle (one stitch remains on the needle)
  4. Knit the next stitch on the left knitting needle
  5. Pass and slip the remaining stitch over the newly knitted stitch on the right knitting needle (one stitch remains on the right knitting needle)
  6. Repeat Steps 5 and 6 till the end of the row
  7. Break yarn and pull the working yarn through the last remaining stitch

~coffeeteaknits.com

© Coffee Tea Knits. All text and images for personal use only. All Rights Reserved.

Tutorial Series: K1tbl and P1tbl

Posted in K1tbl and P1tbl, Tutorial Series by

A knit (Tutorial Series: Knit or Tink) or a purl (Tutorial Series: Purl or Un-Purl) stitch is created through the front loop of the stitch. A variation of the the knit or purl stitch is created through the back loop of the stitch. Knitting or purling through the back loop (K1tbl/Ktbl or P1tbl/Ptbl) twists the stitches. It looks quite different from the knit and purl stitch. K1tbl and P1tbl makes the knitted fabric more dense and is sometimes used in ribbing or as a design element.


The video and written instructions below show how to K1tbl and P1tbl for right-hand knitting.

Knit 1 through the Back Loop (K1tbl):


Written Instructions for Knit 1 through the Back Loop (K1tbl):

  • Insert the right knitting needle front to back through the back loop of the stitch on the left knitting needle.
  • Take the working yarn around the top of the right needle and wrap it between the two needles on top of the first stitch
  • Catch and pick up the working yarn loop (the new stitch) with and onto the right needle
  • Slip the remaining stitch off the left needle

Purl 1 through the Back Loop (P1tbl):


Written Instructions for Purl 1 through the Back Loop (P1tbl):

  • Insert the right needle from back to front through the back loop of the stitch on the left knitting needle
  • Wrap the working yarn around the inserted right needle
  • Catch the loop made made by the working yarn (the new stitch) with the right needle
  • Slip the loop (the new stitch) onto the right needle and the old stitch off the left needle

~coffeeteaknits.com

© Coffee Tea Knits. All text and images for personal use only. All Rights Reserved.

Tutorial Series: Single Crochet in Front Loop (SCFL)

Posted in Single Crochet in Front Loop (SCFL), Tutorial Series by

Another variation of single crochet is the single crochet in front loop (SCFL). The stitch pattern gives a changed texture to a garment. This stitch pattern looks quite different from SCBL (Tutorial Series: Single Crochet in Back Loop).  


The Suddenly It’s Summer Dishcloth Pattern is in single crochet in the front loop (SCFL). This stitch pattern can also be used for blankets, garments etc.

Suddenly It’s Summer Dishcloth

After the foundation row for a single crochet has been worked (Tutorial Series: How to Single Crochet), all the following rows are worked only into the front loop. This gives the fabric a distinct textured pattern on both sides of the work. The video and written instructions provided below show how to make a single crochet in the front loop holding the crochet hook in your right hand.

How to Single Crochet in Front Loop (SCFL):


Written Instructions on How to Single Crochet in Front Loop (SCFL):

  1. After working single crochet in the last stitch of the foundation chain row (Tutorial Series: How to Single Crochet), chain one and turn
  2. Skip the first stitch from the hook, and insert crochet hook in the front loop of the next stitch
  3. Catch and pull yarn loop under and through the front loop of the stitch
  4. There are two loops on the crochet hook now
  5. Yarn over (wrap the working yarn around the hook counterclockwise)
  6. Catch and pull yarn through the remaining two loops on the hook.
  7. There is one loop left on the crochet hook
  8. Repeat Steps 2 to 7 till end of the row and all other subsequent rows (chain one after working the last stitch end of each row and turn to the next row)

~coffeeteaknits.com

© Coffee Tea Knits. All text and images for personal use only. All Rights Reserved.