I thought it was about time I did a little about techniques of knitting.  All you newbe sock knitters out there may wonder how to do the much  dreaded Kitchener Stitch, which is used to graft the two selvages of your toe on your finished sock. 

Below is a diagram of the set up you will have left on your kneedles.

 

kitchstsetup

When you have finished the toe of a sock, you must set up your work as follows: arrange all the front (instep) stitches on one double pointed needle, and all the back (sole) stitches on another double pointed needle–in the instructions which follow, these two needles are called the left needles, both front and rear. The yarn should be coming out of the last stitch on the rear needle–in other words, by the right hand end of the rear left needle, as illustrated above.

 

Next you insert you needle to the first stitch on the front needle as if to purl and pull the stitch off the needle, you then insert you needle into the fist stitch on the front needle as if to knit, and leave it on the needle  Now you insert the needle into the first stitch on the back needle as if to knit and pull the stitch off the needle, next you insert the needle to the first stitch on the back needle as if to purl and leave the stitch on the needle.   Thus you can chant a little mantra as you go to remind you where you are.

  • Step 1: Purl front, push the stitch off
  • Step 2: Knit front, leave the stitch on
  • Step 3: Knit rear, push the stitch off
  • Step 4: Purl rear, leave the stitch on

I hope this helps.