Horizontal Herringbone Stitch Knitting Pattern

The Horizontal Herringbone Stitch knitting pattern is a woven texture that resembles fish scales. It is a very tight weave making it strong and sturdy. As a result, this is a great choice for creating home interior projects, like pillows and rugs.

Get your written pattern instructions that I’ve created for you both flat and in the round, along with my helpful video tutorial.

Horizontal Herringbone knit stitch pattern in orange colored yarn.

Horizontal Herringbone Stitch Texture

Easy to Memorize

The design looks complex to knit, but it is simply a 2-row repeat pattern. Because we are knitting up this cable texture in an easy series of knitting techniques, this is a very easy-to-memorize pattern.

Tight Weave

Before you get started, I want to emphasize this stitch is a very tight weave, as it crisscrosses itself with right and left leaning stitches. If you like the look of this stitch, but would rather it be a more medium weave (and not so tight), you may wish to knit with needles larger than your yarn gauge recommends.

How to Knit the Herringbone Stitch with Easy, Free Knitting Pattern + Video Tutorial by Studio Knit

Curls Slightly

The top and bottom edges of this stitch tends to curl. As such I suggest you consider blocking your piece to help it lay flat.

Knitting Instructions in the Round

Knitting the Herringbone Stitch in the round requires an adjustment to the second round of the pattern. To create a seamless texture, there is a recommended tip on how to finish the round at your stitch marker. Try it out with either circular or double-pointed needles.

Herringbone knit stitch texture in white colored yarn on circular needles.

Is this Stitch Reversible?

The Herringbone Stitch is not a reversible pattern, meaning that the right and wrong sides look different. As you can see in my photo below, the right side (front) displays the desired texture while the wrong side (back) is comprised of tightly woven horizontal lines.

Right and wrong sides of the Horizontal Herringbone Stitch pattern in orange yarn color.

Knitting Techniques

Check out my entire library of Knitting Techniques to help you along as you knit up this project.

Herringbone knit stitch texture in gray-colored yarn on circular needles.

Watch Video Tutorial

Printable Knitting Instructions

Knitted Herringbone Stitch Pattern texture in beige color yarn.

Printable Knitting Pattern

The Herringbone Stitch is a horizontal texture resembling the scales of a fish. It is a very tight weave making it strong and sturdy.

Makes: Horizontal Herringbone Stitch
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Active Time: 2 hours
Additional Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
Difficulty: Intermediate

Materials

  • Yarn - Any Gauge

Tools

  • Knitting Needles - Larger than Appropriate Size for Yarn. This stitch pattern is a very tight weave, so it is recommended to use needles larger than your yarn gauge recommends.
  • Tapestry Needle
  • Scissors

Instructions

KNITTED FLAT ON STRAIGHT NEEDLES:

Cast On Any Number of Stitches

  1. Row 1 (Right Side): * K2Tog TBL – Remove 1st Stitch off Needle with 2nd Stitch Remaining * Slip Last Stitch
  2. Row 2 (Wrong Side): * P2Tog – Remove 1st Stitch off Needle with 2nd Stitch Remaining * Slip Last Stitch

Continue knitting Rows 1 and 2 until length desired, then bind off.

___

IN THE ROUND ON CIRCULAR OR DOUBLE-POINTED NEEDLES:

Cast On An Even Number of Stitches

  1. Round 1: * K2Tog TBL – Remove 1st Stitch off Needle with 2nd Stitch Remaining to Last Stitch *
    Slip Last Stitch from Right Needle onto Left Needle Purlwise,
    Remove Stitch Marker,
    Place Last Stitch Back onto Right Needle Purlwise,
    K2Tog TBL - Remove 1st Stitch off Needle with 2nd Stitch Remaining,
    Remove the 2nd Stitch Remaining from Left to Right Needle, Twist Stitch, Place back onto Left Needle.
  2. Round 2: * K2Tog – Remove 1st Stitch off Needle with 2nd Stitch Remaining to Last Stitch *
    Slip Last Stitch from Right Needle onto Left Needle Purlwise,
    Remove Stitch Marker,
    Place Last Stitch Back onto Right Needle Purlwise,
    K2Tog - Remove 1st Stitch off Needle with 2nd Stitch Remaining,
    Remove the 2nd Stitch Remaining from Left to Right Needle, Twist Stitch, Place back onto Left Needle.

Continue knitting Rounds 1 and 2 until length desired, then bind off.

Notes

Repeat Pattern between * *

Non-Reversible Knit Stitch Pattern.

Very Tight Weave, try to knit loosely.

Tends to Curl Up.

_____

KNITTING TECHNIQUES AND ABBREVIATIONS

  • CO = Cast On Long Tail Method
  • K2Tog = Knit Two Stitches Together
  • K2Tog TBL = Knit Two Stitches Together Through the Back Loop
  • P2Tog = Purl Two Stitches Together
  • BO = Bind Off
  • Weave In Ends

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Kristen McDonnell
Author & Designer

After publishing her first knitting tutorial video, Kristen founded StudioKnit LLC. Enamored with teaching online, she films knitting lessons and designs from her vibrant production studio on Half Moon Bay’s California coast.

Kristen McDonnell is the author of the highly acclaimed book Knit Stitch: 50 Knit + Purl Patterns featuring vintage and unique designs.

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