Garter stitch is a very simple knitting fabric made by working the knit stitch on every row, which creates a squishy, ridged texture that looks the same on both sides.

What is garter stitch?

  • It’s a stitch pattern , not just a single stitch: you get garter stitch fabric by knitting every stitch on every row when working back and forth.
  • The surface shows horizontal “ridges” (little wavy bumps) with small “V” shapes in between the ridges.
  • Both sides look identical, so it’s fully reversible and lies flat instead of curling at the edges like stockinette.

Quick Scoop

If a pattern says “work in garter stitch” (often abbreviated “g st”), it simply means: knit every row when you’re knitting flat on two needles.

How do you knit garter stitch?

Knitting flat (back and forth)

  1. Cast on any number of stitches.
  1. Row 1: knit all stitches.
  1. Row 2: knit all stitches again.
  1. Repeat knit-every-row until your piece is as long as you like.

This is usually the very first fabric beginners make because if you can do a knit stitch, you can do garter stitch.

Knitting garter stitch in the round

When you knit in the round, you don’t turn your work, so doing “knit every round” gives you smooth stockinette, not garter.

To get garter stitch in the round:

  1. Cast on and join in the round.
  2. Round 1: knit all stitches.
  3. Round 2: purl all stitches.
  4. Repeat rounds 1–2 for garter ridges in the round.

Why do knitters use garter stitch?

  • Very beginner-friendly: you practice tension and handling needles without juggling knit and purl on flat pieces.
  • Lies flat: excellent for scarf edges, blanket borders, and pieces that shouldn’t curl.
  • Reversible: perfect for scarves, shawls, and blankets where both sides show.
  • Textured and cushy: makes thick, stretchy fabric that’s great for dishcloths, baby items, and cozy accessories.

A simple example: a beginner might knit a whole scarf in garter stitch—just casting on, then knitting every row—ending up with a soft, ridged, non-curling scarf that looks the same on both sides.

TL;DR: Garter stitch = knit every stitch on every row (flat) to get a reversible, ridged fabric that lies flat and is ideal for beginner-friendly scarves, blankets, and more.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.