The Caterpillar Stitch :: Knitting Stitch #173
Stitch Description
This knitting tutorial will help you learn how to knit the caterpillar stitch. This simple stitch adds a playful bit of texture to any project. Great for children’s garments and bags!
Video Tutorial
Materials Used
Merino Lambs Wool
This unbelievably soft wool is made from shrink treated Merino Lambs Wool. It offers the wonderful qualities of traditionally spun wool, but with the convenience of machine washing and drying. Garments made from this yarn will not shrink or fade after numerous machine washings and dryings. Made in the USA.
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Addi Lace Click Interchangeable Needle Set
Have all the needles you’ll ever need in one convenient carrying case! The addi Lace Click system provides 8 different sizes of addi Lace tips, five different lengths of our new, extremely pliable blue cord, and one connector piece which helps to either store stitches or combine your cords. The Click tips require no tools to change; simply insert the cord deep into the tip, twist and release. The tips will remain secure until you change them, thanks to the Click's revolutionary locking mechanism. The addi Click tips are nickel plated. Our nickel plating process is electro-static, which produces a smooth, rounded edge, where the tip and the cord "click" together.
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Abbreviations
Stitch Details
Stitch Characteristics
Pattern Instructions
Cast On: Multiples of 8 + 6
- Row 1: (right side) k4, p2, *k6, p2; rep from * to end
- Row 2: p1, k2, *p6, k2; rep from * to last 3 sts, p3
- Row 3: k2, p2, *k6, p2; rep from * to last 2 sts, k2
- Row 4: p3, k2, *p6, k2; rep from * to last st, p1
- Row 5: p2, *k6, p2; rep from * to last 4sts, k4
- Row 6: Purl.
Repeat rows 1 – 6 until you have reached your desired length.
Swatch Photos
Example of the caterpillar stitch Right Side (click for larger)
Example of Caterpillar stitch Wrong Side (click for larger)
About the Author
Making baby leggings. This will be cute.
Love the new site. Needs to have a print button for the pattern. I have to make copies of the whole page just to get the pattern. Still I love everything you do.!!!!
It’s on our list of things to add.
I like this stitch for the simplicity. Of course, I haven’t swatched it yet but if it will knit up square I can see it being substituted for any square that’s done in a plain ss (such as Mary Maxim’s lighthouse afghan).
When you say cast on multiples of 8+6 Do you mean multiples of 8 (say 4*8)+6
OR do you mean multiples of 8+6 (or 14)? say 4*14
It’s confusing and the difference could be quite a lot.
Hi Lauren!
A lot of people have this issue. It’s probably our most asked question. It means multiples of 8 (16, 24, 32, etc.) then add 6 at the end.
I like this stitch very much. It is clean and simple.
Love everything about your site. It’s been so informative.