My Forever Stitch

Every knitter has that one stitch they come back to again and again. It’s the one that feels like home the moment it’s on your needles. For some people, it’s garter, or ribbing, or good old stockinette. For me? It has always, always been seed stitch.

It’s the texture I reach for without thinking; the thing my hands seem to know before my brain catches up. I’ve designed a lot of seed stitch patterns over the years—cowls, sweaters, accessories— and whenever people ask me why I love it so much, I usually laugh and say ‘I don’t know!’ But the truth is, I think I do know.

Seed stitch is simple, but it’s not boring. The texture is delicious. It’s rhythmic without being sleepy. And it just…works. With every yarn. Every gauge. Every color. Seed stitch is totally that song-on-repeat in your life. Familiar, comforting, and somehow always exactly the vibe you need.

I realized this way back when I designed the Gaptastic Cowl. The texture was so dimensional, so satisfying. So good that fifteen years later, people are still knitting that cowl. That blows my mind in the best way. (I’ll be hosting a KAL in December to celebrate its 15th anniversary!)

And honestly, seed stitch has followed me through my making life ever since. Whenever I’m designing something new, I try other stitches. I really do. I experiment. I swatch. And then nine times out of ten, I find myself saying, ’What if I tried seed stitch, just to see?’ And then I see, and that’s that.

My newest design, the Strange Brew Vest, is one of those seed stitch moments that just clicked. I knit it in my all-time favorite shade of chartreuse—that bright, fresh, mood-lifting color that somehow works with everything. If yarn could glow from within, this is what it would look like.

The thing I love most about wearing a seed stitch piece is that it looks so easy. You throw it on and suddenly your outfit has depth. It looks stylish in that quiet way that never tries too hard. With the Strange Brew Vest, I immediately started planning outfits in my head: over a white tee, layered with denim, under a jacket, with wide-leg pants. It’s one of those pieces you want to style five different ways before it even gets out of the blocking water.

But here’s the thing: seed stitch isn’t just for garments. It works its charm in accessories, items for the home, and basic everyday pieces.

Here are a few of my favorite patterns that celebrate this humble, perfect texture:

Seed Stitch Scarf by Camellia Fiber Co.

A long, cozy, endlessly wearable classic. Simple and low-stress in the best way, it’s perfect for settling in with your favorite show or audiobook.

Slipped Seed Stitch Hand Towel by Purl Soho

Seed stitch for the home, elevated with neat slipped stitches. It’s meditative, useful, and honestly kind of fancy for a hand towel. The best kind of kitchen flex.

Raw Honey Mitts by Alicia Plummer

Fingerless mitts that use seed stitch to create a cozy mitt that hugs your hands. Quick, sweet, perfect for gifting.

The Wedding Necktie by Susan B. Anderson

Seed stitch as formalwear. I adore this. It’s charming and unexpected, and the texture makes it feel extra special.

Blue Bayou by Isabel Kraemer

An allover seed stitch dream with total cozy-sweatshirt energy. It’s one of those everyday sweaters that feels like home the moment you put it on.

Mabel Cardigan (by me, again)

Soft, minimal, and quietly stylish, and knit in MDK Atlas! It’s the perfect “live-in-it” cardigan. Easy to knit, even easier to wear.

Seed stitch is my forever stitch. Maybe it’ll become yours too.

P.S. If you’re itching to cast on something seed-stitchy right now, my new Strange Brew Vest is 10% off on Ravelry with the code JEN10.