Uploaded June 2021 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
It is easy to do Kitchener stitch and have the seam come out too loose or too tight. Follow these tension tips so that your Kitchener stitch bind-off is invisible, stretchy, and blends in perfectly with the surrounding stitches.
To improve your tension on Kitchener stitch, try the following tips:
- Only cut as much tail as you need, not more
- Stop every few stitches to see how your bind-off looks. Give the finished section of the bind-off a little tug as you go, so that you can see if it’s too tight or too loose.
- Pull your yarn carefully when pulling it through the stitches. Do not pull hard. Pull until the yarn is just snug.
- Bring the needles close to each other every time you pull the yarn through. If you keep them far apart, it will make it difficult to get the tension right.
- The row of stitches you’re creating should match the tension of the surrounding stitches.
If your Kitchener stitch is too loose, you can use your tapestry needle to move the loose yarn down the bind-off and tighten up the bind-off. If it is too tight, you should undo your bind-off and start again (how to undo your Kitchener stitch bind-off: youtu.be/uJIFAXoPVEM)
For a step-by-step photo tutorial of Kitchener stitch, a downloadable cheat sheet, and lots of Kitchener stitch tips and tricks, see our Complete Video Guide to Seaming Your Knitting With Kitchener Stitch (knitfreedom.com/blog/kitchener-stitch-video-instructions-complete-guide).
To watch this Kitchener stitch tension video on KnitFreedom, go to:
knitfreedom.com/knitting-video/how-to-have-great-tension-on-kitchener-stitch
--- ABOUT KNITFREEDOM'S KNITTING SUPERSTAR UNIVERSITY ---
Trying to learn and master knitting on your own is frustrating. Knitting Superstar University is a video knitting school that teaches you everything you need to know so you can knit any project with confidence. Get instant access at knitfreedom.com
It is easy to do Kitchener stitch and have the seam come out too loose or too tight. Follow these tension tips so that your Kitchener stitch bind-off is invisible, stretchy, and blends in perfectly with the surrounding stitches.
To improve your tension on Kitchener stitch, try the following tips:
- Only cut as much tail as you need, not more
- Stop every few stitches to see how your bind-off looks. Give the finished section of the bind-off a little tug as you go, so that you can see if it’s too tight or too loose.
- Pull your yarn carefully when pulling it through the stitches. Do not pull hard. Pull until the yarn is just snug.
- Bring the needles close to each other every time you pull the yarn through. If you keep them far apart, it will make it difficult to get the tension right.
- The row of stitches you’re creating should match the tension of the surrounding stitches.
If your Kitchener stitch is too loose, you can use your tapestry needle to move the loose yarn down the bind-off and tighten up the bind-off. If it is too tight, you should undo your bind-off and start again (how to undo your Kitchener stitch bind-off: youtu.be/uJIFAXoPVEM)
For a step-by-step photo tutorial of Kitchener stitch, a downloadable cheat sheet, and lots of Kitchener stitch tips and tricks, see our Complete Video Guide to Seaming Your Knitting With Kitchener Stitch (knitfreedom.com/blog/kitchener-stitch-video-instructions-complete-guide).
To watch this Kitchener stitch tension video on KnitFreedom, go to:
knitfreedom.com/knitting-video/how-to-have-great-tension-on-kitchener-stitch
--- ABOUT KNITFREEDOM'S KNITTING SUPERSTAR UNIVERSITY ---
Trying to learn and master knitting on your own is frustrating. Knitting Superstar University is a video knitting school that teaches you everything you need to know so you can knit any project with confidence. Get instant access at knitfreedom.com
![[KnitFreedom] Toe Up Socks: When To Start Increases For Fleegle Heel](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DmYhggEeWcs/mqdefault.jpg "[KnitFreedom] Toe Up Socks: When To Start Increases For Fleegle Heel
https://www.knitfreedom.com/knitting-video/when-to-start-increasing-for-the-fleegle-heel-gusset/
Visit https://www.knitfreedom.com/knitting-topic toe-up-socks to get more great tips to help you learn how to knit toe-up socks, one- or two-at-a-time.
When to start the Fleegle heel:
A big issue for first-time knitters of toe-up socks is knowing when to start increasing for the Fleegle heel. Fleegle describes the time to start increasing as when the knitting reaches the front of your ankle.
I dont know about you, but my ankle has more of a gradual transition than a demarcation where my foot turns into my leg.
To overcome this issue, heres what to do:
Flex your foot as much as you can — this helps the front of the ankle become more apparent.
Pull the sock onto your foot (which of course is easy because youre using Magic Loop), and hold it as snug as youd like it when youre wearing it. If the knitting reaches the crook in your ankle, youre ready to start the Fleegle heel increases.
Use both hands to pull the sock on. You can see that my knitting is stretched snug and hits what, over time, I have come to judge as the front of my ankle.
If youre not sure, better start increasing. Most people just learning this technique tend to wait too long to start the heel.
See some photos and learn more at https://www.knitfreedom.com/blog/when-to-start-your-fleegle-heel-increases-where-is-the-front-of-your-ankle/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmYhggEeWcs")
![[KnitFreedom] Removing One or Both Socks from Two at a Time Knitting](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IO0oL38gDTg/mqdefault.jpg "[KnitFreedom] Removing One or Both Socks from Two at a Time Knitting
https://www.knitfreedom.com/knitting-video/removing-one-or-two-socks-from-two-at-a-time-needles-to-unravel-or-fix-then-put-back-on/
How to take off one or both socks from your two-at-a-time knitting project to unravel or fix mistakes and then put it/them back on.")
