How To Easily Tighten Your Knit Edge Stich

Ever notice that the first stitch of your row looks loose? This quick trick tightens it right up and gives you clean, even edges.

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Why Is The First Stitch Loose?

When you knit across a row, each new stitch naturally tightens the one before it. But at the end of the row, there isn’t a “next stitch” to snug things up. When you turn your work, that last stitch doesn’t get tightened, so it stretches and creates that long, loose edge loop. See the steps below to tighten that right up.

Step 1 – Knit the first stitch normally

Knit the first stitch just like you always do.

Step 2 – Hold the new stitch and pull up

Use your finger to lightly hold the stitch you just made so it doesn’t loosen while you adjust the yarn. Gently pull up on the working yarn. You’ll see the loose edge stitch get smaller while the loop on your needle gets bigger.

Step 3 – Resize the loop on your needle

Gently snug the loop back down to needle size.

Step 4 – Keep knitting

Continue across the row as normal. The tightened down stitch now creates a nice neat edge.

Now you know how to tighten your edges. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial!