Uploaded January 2022 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
An impeccable, double knit pocket, for a single knit fabric, worked from the open end. (A bottom up pocket can be found on my Double Knitting Delight DVD available from LittleBarnStudio.ca)
This pocket is suitable for a single knit to and fro, top-down situation.
In preparation, cast on and work a 4 row piece of stocking stitch as wide as the future pocket, in brightly contrasting, similar weight, waste yarn. Cut off waste yarn.
With additional planning this ‘waste yarn’ could also be utilized as the facing and finishing for the top of the pocket and need not be removed later.
Establishing the Double Layer
With RS facing: Slip stitches to the right-hand needle until you reach the pocket position, PM, holding the waste yarn flap at the front of the work, (s1, s1 waste yarn st onto the right-hand needle), repeat across the intended pocket width, PM. Stop. Slip all stitches back to the left-hand needle.
The waste yarn stitches will form the pocket front, the existing stitches form the lining. The stitches are set up with the Far layer stitches ahead of the Near layer stitches.
Row 1 RS: Knit to pocket position, (s1wyif, k1) repeat to end of pocket marker. TURN
This knits all the WY stitches = 1 row pocket front and one row on the right hand side.
Row 2 WS: (S1, p1) repeat to marker, TURN.
This purls one row of Pocket back.
Row 3 RS: (S1wyif, k1) to pocket marker, knit to end.
This knits a second row of the pocket front and left hand side.
Row 4 WS: Purl to marker, (s1, p1) to end of pocket marker, purl to end.
This purls a second row of the pocket back and a second row on both the left and right hand sides.
Repeat Rows 1 - 4.
Closing the Pocket Bottom
With RS facing, Far sts ahead of Near: Knit to pocket position, k2t across the pocket and knit to end.
To release the pocket top stitches; cut away the waste yarn and pick up the Australian Cousin stitches released. There will be one fewer Australian Cousin stitches than the width of your pocket. Apply a pocket top to these stitches.
Note that for every 2 rows of garment that are created, there are two front pocket rows and two back pocket rows. See the diagram (right) for the path of the yarn. Be careful of gauge changes if working a large area.
When working a DK pocket from the opening edge to the closed end, it is necessary to determine which way the pocket should open (inside or outside) at the outset. If you wish for an interior opening pocket the waste yarn stitches must be placed in the pocket back situation.
Double knitting has a different gauge to single knitting with the same yarn and needles (it is looser). I would counteract this by either working the pocket stitches with a deliberate increase in yarn tension or by putting the pocket stitches plus about 5 on either side onto a smaller diameter circular needle and work it using this needle.
Other Pockets
A flat, closed-end up pocket can be found on my Double Knitting Delight DVD
A round, closed-end up pocket can be found in my Craftsy class "Foundations of Double Knitting".
Thanks for watching, please subscribe to see new videos. My former website is now closed BUT you can now find all my patterns, e-books and virtual knitting technique DVDs at their new home at LittleBarnStudio.ca. I'm Lucyknit on Instagram.
Patterns and Cool Socks Warm Feet and Cool Knitters Finish in Style books are also available on Rav.
Also available at Craftsy.com are:
Foundations of Double Knitting
Fearless Knitting
My First Socks
Next Steps in Socks
Many Happy stitches, Lucy
An impeccable, double knit pocket, for a single knit fabric, worked from the open end. (A bottom up pocket can be found on my Double Knitting Delight DVD available from LittleBarnStudio.ca)
This pocket is suitable for a single knit to and fro, top-down situation.
In preparation, cast on and work a 4 row piece of stocking stitch as wide as the future pocket, in brightly contrasting, similar weight, waste yarn. Cut off waste yarn.
With additional planning this ‘waste yarn’ could also be utilized as the facing and finishing for the top of the pocket and need not be removed later.
Establishing the Double Layer
With RS facing: Slip stitches to the right-hand needle until you reach the pocket position, PM, holding the waste yarn flap at the front of the work, (s1, s1 waste yarn st onto the right-hand needle), repeat across the intended pocket width, PM. Stop. Slip all stitches back to the left-hand needle.
The waste yarn stitches will form the pocket front, the existing stitches form the lining. The stitches are set up with the Far layer stitches ahead of the Near layer stitches.
Row 1 RS: Knit to pocket position, (s1wyif, k1) repeat to end of pocket marker. TURN
This knits all the WY stitches = 1 row pocket front and one row on the right hand side.
Row 2 WS: (S1, p1) repeat to marker, TURN.
This purls one row of Pocket back.
Row 3 RS: (S1wyif, k1) to pocket marker, knit to end.
This knits a second row of the pocket front and left hand side.
Row 4 WS: Purl to marker, (s1, p1) to end of pocket marker, purl to end.
This purls a second row of the pocket back and a second row on both the left and right hand sides.
Repeat Rows 1 - 4.
Closing the Pocket Bottom
With RS facing, Far sts ahead of Near: Knit to pocket position, k2t across the pocket and knit to end.
To release the pocket top stitches; cut away the waste yarn and pick up the Australian Cousin stitches released. There will be one fewer Australian Cousin stitches than the width of your pocket. Apply a pocket top to these stitches.
Note that for every 2 rows of garment that are created, there are two front pocket rows and two back pocket rows. See the diagram (right) for the path of the yarn. Be careful of gauge changes if working a large area.
When working a DK pocket from the opening edge to the closed end, it is necessary to determine which way the pocket should open (inside or outside) at the outset. If you wish for an interior opening pocket the waste yarn stitches must be placed in the pocket back situation.
Double knitting has a different gauge to single knitting with the same yarn and needles (it is looser). I would counteract this by either working the pocket stitches with a deliberate increase in yarn tension or by putting the pocket stitches plus about 5 on either side onto a smaller diameter circular needle and work it using this needle.
Other Pockets
A flat, closed-end up pocket can be found on my Double Knitting Delight DVD
A round, closed-end up pocket can be found in my Craftsy class "Foundations of Double Knitting".
Thanks for watching, please subscribe to see new videos. My former website is now closed BUT you can now find all my patterns, e-books and virtual knitting technique DVDs at their new home at LittleBarnStudio.ca. I'm Lucyknit on Instagram.
Patterns and Cool Socks Warm Feet and Cool Knitters Finish in Style books are also available on Rav.
Also available at Craftsy.com are:
Foundations of Double Knitting
Fearless Knitting
My First Socks
Next Steps in Socks
Many Happy stitches, Lucy
