How to Knit the Duplicate Stitch

Last Updated: March 29, 2019 Tested

Whether knit a sweater, socks, handbag, toy or any other item, you can personalize it or decorate it with duplicate stitch. This is done by a sort of embroidering with a darning needle. You don't have to be an experienced knitter to accomplish this, and it's a way to add designs to your knitting without using a method like Intarsia knitting.

Steps

1
Understand that Duplicate Stitch simply means covering existing stitches with a different coloured yarn to create a picture, monograms, or words. Imagine drawing a picture and then going over parts of it with a different coloured pen to create a nicer picture. It looks like embroidery but is actually knit.
2
Follow a chart or you can make your own duplicate stitch using graph paper. Each square represents one stitch. Be creative! Here are some examples of small motifs taken from an antique pattern book.
- A girl
- A butterfly
- A bird
- A flower
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3
Remember that duplicate stitches can be removed if you want to create a new picture. Be careful however as the colour may have faded and the colour under the stitches may look darker. If not, you can remove the stitches and put a new picture on. This is great for children's garments.
4
Knit your garment. Now put away your knitting needles and bring out a darning needle. Use the same size yarn of a different colour. If you have knit your article with 4-ply worsted yarn, use the same type of yarn so that your stitches are covered evenly.
5
Thread the needle with the yarn. Remember, too much yarn means tangles, too little yarn means you tie more knots.
6
Working from right to left, pull the needle through the bottom of the first stitch you wish to cover (and top of the stitch underneath), insert it right to left through both loops of the stitch above and pull gently. You will now see the right side of the stitch covered. Bring the needle down and through the same place as your beginning stitch. You now have one stitch covered.
- Don't pull too tightly or you will have a crumple. Don't leave too loose or your stitches will hang. Keep your tension the same as the knitted article. This will take practice.
7
Understand the different processes for making vertical or horizontal stitches.
- To make vertical stitches, insert the needle through the stitch above the original stitch and repeat.
- To make horizontal stitches, insert the needle through the stitch to the left of the original stitch and repeat.
8
Attach the loose ends by knitting into the back of a stitch and cut ends.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I do duplicate stitch over garter stitch?

Community Answer

It is not a good idea to do a duplicate stitch over a garter stitch. It will not look good. You need to do it over stockinette stitch.
Question

Can I duplicate a stitch in seed stitch?

Michele

Top Answerer

Yes and no. Since a seed stitch included both knit and purl on the same side, it won't look quite as good as working on a straight stockinette stitch. When trying to duplicate the purl stitch, the color tends to get lost. It can be done, but it won't look its best.
Question

Is it possible to do a duplicate stitch on a cable stitch?

T. Chinsen

Top Answerer

It can be done on a cable stitch. It is tricky to work the direction of the stitches, as the stitch grouping is crossed over in the original format. Using an embroidery approach should allow you to adequately cover the cable stitch.