You can identify most knitting stitches from a photo by looking for key visual characteristics: smooth Vs indicate stockinette, horizontal ridges mean garter stitch, and vertical columns signal ribbing. With Ravelry's 11+ million users sharing project photos daily, stitch identification is an essential skill for recreating patterns. Tools like La Maille can also analyze photos automatically, but understanding stitch structure yourself makes you a more confident knitter.
The Foundation: Knit and Purl
Every stitch pattern is built from two basic stitches: knit and purl.
Knit stitches look like small Vs stacked on top of each other. When you see smooth, V-shaped fabric, you're looking at the knit side.
Purl stitches look like horizontal bumps or waves. This is what you see on the back of stockinette fabric.
Understanding this is key to identifying everything else.
Stockinette Stitch
What it looks like: Smooth fabric with columns of V-shaped stitches on one side, horizontal bumps on the other.
Where you'll see it: The most common sweater fabric. Used for the body of most garments.
How to identify: Look for the characteristic V pattern. The fabric lies flat and has a clear "right side" (Vs) and "wrong side" (bumps).
Watch out for: The edges curl — stockinette naturally rolls toward the purl side at top and bottom, and toward the knit side at the edges.
Reverse Stockinette
What it looks like: The bumpy "wrong side" of stockinette used as the right side.
Where you'll see it: Sometimes used for texture contrast or as a design choice. The bumpy side faces out.
How to identify: Rows of horizontal bumps across the fabric.
Garter Stitch
What it looks like: Ridged fabric with horizontal lines. Looks the same on both sides.
Where you'll see it: Borders, scarves, dishcloths, and sometimes entire garments for a casual look.
How to identify: Alternating rows of smooth Vs and bumpy ridges. The fabric doesn't curl and is quite squishy.
Key difference from stockinette: Garter stitch is reversible and has visible ridges; stockinette is smooth on one side only.
Ribbing
What it looks like: Vertical columns of knit and purl stitches creating raised ridges.
Where you'll see it: Cuffs, hems, necklines — anywhere you need stretch and grip. Sometimes used for entire fitted garments.
Common types:
- 1x1 ribbing: Alternating single knit and purl columns (K1, P1)
- 2x2 ribbing: Pairs of knit and purl columns (K2, P2)
- Broken ribbing: Variations with different numbers (2x1, 3x1, etc.)
How to identify: Look for vertical lines with depth — the knit columns pop forward while purl columns recede.
Seed Stitch (Moss Stitch)
What it looks like: Bumpy, textured fabric with no clear columns or rows — like scattered seeds.
Where you'll see it: Borders, textured panels, blankets, and anywhere a flat, non-curling fabric is wanted.
How to identify: Alternating knit and purl stitches that don't align vertically — each knit sits above a purl and vice versa. Creates a dense, pebbly texture.
Key difference from ribbing: Ribbing has vertical columns; seed stitch looks random and scattered.
Cables
What it looks like: Twisted rope-like patterns where stitches cross over each other.
Where you'll see it: Aran sweaters, cardigans, traditional fisherman knits, accent panels.
How to identify: Look for raised, braided patterns. Stitches clearly cross over — you can see where one group passes in front of another.
Variations: Simple 2-stitch twists to complex honeycomb patterns. The basic principle is always stitches crossing.
Lace
What it looks like: Fabric with intentional holes forming patterns.
Where you'll see it: Shawls, summer tops, decorative panels, edging.
How to identify: Holes are deliberate and form a pattern. Created by yarn-overs paired with decreases.
Key difference from dropped stitches: Lace holes are consistent and form a pattern; dropped stitches are random mistakes.
Colorwork
Stranded (Fair Isle)
What it looks like: Multiple colors in a single row creating patterns. No large blocks of single colors.
How to identify: Colors change frequently across a row. On the wrong side, you'd see carried floats of unused colors.
Intarsia
What it looks like: Blocks or shapes of different colors. Each section is a solid color.
How to identify: Large areas of single colors that would be impractical to strand. Think argyle patterns or picture knitting.
Stripes
What it looks like: Horizontal bands of different colors.
How to identify: Color changes happen between rows, not within them. The easiest colorwork to spot.
Tips for Analyzing Photos
Zoom in: Most phones and computers let you zoom on images. Get close to see stitch structure.
Look at the edges: Hems and cuffs often show ribbing or garter stitch clearly.
Check the texture: Smooth usually means stockinette. Ridged might be garter. Bumpy could be seed stitch.
Follow the lines: Do you see vertical columns (ribbing, cables)? Horizontal ridges (garter)? Diagonal lines (cables twisting)?
Consider the garment: Different parts typically use different stitches. Body might be stockinette while edges are ribbed.
When You Can't Tell
Sometimes a photo just isn't clear enough to identify the stitch. In these cases:
- Look for other photos of the same or similar garment
- Search for similar textures on Ravelry or Pinterest
- Start with your best guess — you can always adjust
- Use AI tools that can analyze images and suggest stitch patterns
Putting It Into Practice
Try identifying stitches in photos you already have: 1. Look at a sweater in your closet 2. Find a knitwear photo on Pinterest 3. Check a pattern photo on Ravelry
The more you practice, the faster you'll recognize patterns.
Using This Skill
Once you can identify stitches, you can:
- Recreate garments you see and love
- Troubleshoot problems in your own knitting
- Better understand pattern instructions
- Communicate clearly about what you want to make
- Get better results from AI pattern generators by understanding what you're uploading
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I identify a knitting stitch from a photo? Look for key characteristics: smooth Vs = stockinette, vertical ridges = ribbing, horizontal ridges = garter, twisted ropes = cables, intentional holes = lace.
What's the difference between stockinette and garter stitch? Stockinette is smooth Vs on one side, bumps on the other. Garter stitch has horizontal ridges on both sides and doesn't curl.
How can I tell if a sweater has raglan or set-in sleeves? Raglan has diagonal seam lines from underarm to neckline. Set-in sleeves have curved seams that follow the shoulder and drop into the armhole.
What is ribbing in knitting? Alternating vertical columns of knit and purl stitches creating stretchy, ridged fabric. Common types: 1x1 (K1P1) and 2x2 (K2P2). Used for cuffs, hems, necklines.
Can AI identify knitting stitches from photos? Yes. Tools like La Maille analyze photos to identify construction and stitch patterns. For complex patterns, knowing basic stitch identification helps verify results.
Ready to turn a photo into a pattern? La Maille can analyze your image and generate knitting instructions — but knowing your stitches helps you verify the results and make adjustments.