Grafting

Grafting uses a tapestry needle (threaded with yarn) like a knitting needle to "sew" stitches that mimic knitting. Each stitch is processed twice when grafting (as opposed to once when knitting):

  • Prepping a stitch means that you draw the needle and yarn through the stitch in the direction specified but DO NOT remove the stitch from the needle.

  • Picking off a stitch means that you draw the needle and yarn through the stitch in the direction specified, then slide it off the needle.

Here are a few more grafting-related tidbits:

  • You'll always work the stitches in the order they're in on the needles. Don't skip any stitches!

  • Except for the first and last stitch in a row, you'll always work two stitches on the front needle (pick off, then prep) followed by two stitches on the back needle (pick off, then prep).

  • Except for the first and last stitch in a row, you'll always alternate between picking off and prepping stitches.

  • If you haven't already done so, you may want to place a lifeline in the final row of each side before beginning to graft.

  • I highly recommend that if you need to put your work down, you do so after completing all four steps in a sequence and that, if you are grafting in pattern, you mark where you are in the instructions. It's very hard to figure out where you were from looking at your work!

  • Stop and adjust the tension in the graft every ten stitches or so at the end of a four-step sequence (so you can easily find your place again). For stitches that are too loose, work from the side farthest from the live stitches, using the tapestry needle to gently tighten the legs of each stitch. For stitches that are too tight, work from the side nearest the live stitches, using the tapestry needle to gently tug extra yarn into the legs of each stitch in succession.

Beyond that, any Remade By Hand pattern that involves grafting will give you tips as well as specific instructions for how to work that pattern's particular graft. However, there are some great basic resources out there on grafting in general. Here are a few of my favorites:

Craftsy’s Ins and Outs of Grafting class with Anne Hanson — This free video-based class covers grafting basic stitches as well as adjusting tension and other great tips.

Knitty.com's grafting tutorial — This article covers grafting in Stockinette through a series of clear photos and explanations.

Solene Knits's grafting tutorial — This article covers grafting in pattern.

Why Every Serious Knitter Should Know How to Graft in Pattern from Interweave — This detailed article walks through an example of grafting in pattern.

Romi Hill's grafting tutorial — This article explains how to use waste yarn to help see where to graft pieces in pattern.