Chinese Waves Knitting Stitch

Chinese waves is a super easy stitch pattern to knit. It’s also fun and has a nice wavy texture to it.

If you have mastered knitting back and forth (garter stitch) and feel it’s time to try something new this is a good next step!

Chinese waves is a variation on garter stitch and all you need to learn is to slip stitches without knitting them.

I’ll show you in a video below, and you’ll also find a written pattern for Chinese waves under the video.

More to read:
––> Knitting with slipped stitches
––> Knit and purl stitch patterns

Chinese waves knitting stitch pattern

Slipping purl or knit wise

For this pattern, the yarn is held at the back of the work when slipping the stitches. 

In the video, I slip the stitches purl wise. That means that I insert the needle tip into the stitch as if I were to purl it. But instead of wrapping the yarn and pulling through I let the stitch slip over to the right needle.

If you want to you can also slip the stitch knit-wise, inserting the needle tip as if you were making a knit stitch.

The difference it makes is that the stitches slipped knit wise will be twisted when you knit them on the next row resulting in a slightly denser fabric. 

Knitting video tutorial: Chinese waves

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Pattern: Chinese waves

Cast on an odd number of stitches (3, 5, 7…)

k = knit
sl1 = slip 1 stitch
wyib = with yarn in back

The knit rows are made from the right side and the pattern rows (with the slipped stitches) are made from the wrong side. 

Row 1: Knit all stitches
Row 2: k1, * sl1 wyib, k1*, repeat *–* to the end of the row
Row 3: Knit att stitches
Row 4: *k2, *sl1 wyib, k1*, repeat *–* to the last stitch, k1

Your next read:
––> Is your circular needle too long?
––> Prevent stockinette stitch from curling
––> Knitting with slipped stitches