The Bamboo Stitch is one of my favourite stitches to use in many of my projects. When worked with thicker yarn such as worsted, Aran, or chunky you get a really cozy fabric knit up really quickly and when using lighter yarns such as sport weight or fingering you create an airy fabric that’s great for Spring or Summer items.
Instructions:
To knit up the Bamboo stitch you only need two rows which you will repeat until you have the desired length of your project:
Row 1: *YO, K2, pass the first stitch over the K2* repeat until end of row
Row 2: Purl all stitches until end of row
Alternative Instructions For Knitting In The Round
I love to use this stitch for making hats so I often work in the round and therefore will need to adjust the second row to knit all stitches instead of purling. Your new instructions will look like this:
Row 1: *YO, K2, pass over first stitch*
Row 2: Knit all stitches
Tips For Yarning Over
The very first yarn over will seem awkward but you’ll be fine as long as you don’t make it too tight otherwise you may end up pinching the fabric. With all of the yarn overs you make you can ensure that they are not too tight by starting with your working yarn at the back of your work and then wrapping it over your needle clockwise. Be sure not to tug too hard on your yarn overs as you will need space to pass it over the two knit stitches and you’ll want to have a consistent tension throughout your work.
Bamboo Stitch Patterns
Here are the patterns I have designed that use the bamboo stitch: