Knitted Chain Stitch: Easy Texture Pattern with Step-by-Step Rows

The Knitted Chain Stitch creates a decorative, chain-like texture that adds visual interest and depth to scarves, blankets, and other cozy projects. It uses simple slipped stitches alternated with knit and purl rows to form vertical chain columns. This page includes the materials, common abbreviations, the full 6-row repeat, and a few tips to help you get even, attractive chains.

Close-up of the Knitted Chain Stitch showing the chain-like vertical texture.

Knitting materials and tools:

• Circular or DPN knitting needles 6 mm (UK 4 or US 10);
• Bernat Maker Home Dec – 72% cotton, 28% nylon, 250 grams -290 m per skein; You can use any bulky yarn you have.

Common abbreviations of knit stitches:

• k – knit
• p – purl
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• sel s – selvage stitch: always slip the first stitch purlwise, work to the last stitch, purl the last stitch.

Swatch showing how the chain columns align across the rows.

Knit chain stitch pattern

Cast on a multiple of 2 sts plus 2 selvage stitches.

Row 1: sel s, *p1, slip the next stitch holding working yarn in front – repeat from *, sel s.

Row 2: sel s, *k1, slip the next stitch holding working yarn in back – repeat from *, sel s.

Row 3: sel s, knit all stitches, sel s.

Row 4: sel s, purl all stitches, sel s.

You can stop at this point and start repeating the pattern from the Row1. I like when there is a bigger distance between chains, that is why I knit also Rows 5-6.

Row 5: sel s, knit all stitches, sel s.

Row 6: sel s, purl all stitches, sel s.

Repeat Rows 1-6 to form pattern.

Tips

• Keep the slipped stitches loose enough so the chains have room to form; too-tight slipping will flatten the chains.
• When slipping, follow the instructions exactly: slip purlwise and position the working yarn in front (Row 1) or back (Row 2) to create the chain effect.
• Maintain your selvage stitches (sel s) for neat edges—slip the first stitch purlwise and purl the last stitch of each row.
• Experiment with spacing: adding extra knit/purl rows between the chain rows (as shown with Rows 5–6) increases the vertical distance between chains.

Happy knitting — this stitch is a lovely way to add texture without complicated techniques.