How to Knit Basketweave Stitch

By Pam Allen, Tracy Barr, and Shannon Okey from Knitting For Dummies, 2nd Edition

Like many stitches, the basketweave stitch looks complicated but is actually very easy to create. Basketweave stitch got its name for obvious reasons, as you can see.

Try your hand at knitting basic basketweave:

1. Cast on a multiple of 8 sts, plus 5 sts.
2. Follow this stitch pattern:
   Rows 1 and 5 (RS): Knit.
   Rows 2 and 4: K5, * p3, k5; rep from * to end of row.
   Row 3: P5, * k3, p5; rep from * to end of row.
   Rows 6 and 8: K1, p3, * k5, p3; rep from * to last st, k1.
   Row 7: P1, k3, * p5, k3; rep from * to last st, k1.
3. Repeat Rows 1–8 to create the pattern.

You can use any number of stitches for each block — 4 x 4, 5 x 5, 3 x 7, and so on — for variations on the basic basketweave.

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Simple Basketweave (multiple of 8 sts)

Note: the instructions below are a generic description of how to execute this stitch pattern. For a single repeat, you'd only need eight stitches but you'd have a VERY narrow piece! In the example shown, there are four repeats of the stitch, so to make a swatch that looks like the one shown, you need to cast on 32 stitches (4 x the multiple of 8 stitches needed for a single repeat of the pattern.)

Row 1 (RS) Knit.
Rows 2-6 *K4, p4; rep from * to end.
Row 7 Knit.
Rows 8-12 *P4, k4; rep from * to end.
Rep rows 1-12.

Stitch directions reproduced with permission, from Vogue Knitting Stitchionary: Volume One, Sixth & Spring Books, 2005

How to Knit the Basketweave Stitch

Edited by Davendrash, Chris, Avikah toy, BR and 2 others

The basketweave stitch is a simple, but beautiful pattern. It looks like it's woven fabric, but all you need to know is how to knit and purl. Read on for the instructions on how to knit the Basketweave stitch.

1. 
   1
   Cast on a multiple of 8 plus 3 stitches. Examples would be nineteen stitches (16 + 3) or 35 stitches (32 +3). The latter would be a good amount for a scarf with worsted weight yarn.
2. 
   2
   Understand that "K" stands for "knit" in this pattern and "P" stands for purl.The number that follows designates how many of that stitch to do. So "P4" means, "purl four stitches." It's that easy!
3. 
   3
   Follow the pattern:
   • Row 1: Knit all stitches of the first row.
   • Row two: K4, P3,*K5,P3. Repeat from * to the end of the row, end with K4.
   • Row three: P4,K3,*P5,K3. Repeat from * to the end of the row, end with P4.
   • Row four: K4, P3,*K5,P3. Repeat from * to the end of row, end with K4.
   • Row five: Knit across.
   • Row six: P3,* K5, P3. Repeat from * to the end of the row.
   • Row seven: K3,* P5, K3. Repeat from * to the end of the row.
   • Row eight: P3,*K5,P3. Repeat from * to the end of the row.
4. 
   4
   Repeat these eight rows of the pattern until your piece is the desired length.You should end up with a a fabric that looks like interwoven strands of cloth.
5. 
   5
   Cast off.
6. http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-knit-a-basket-weave-stitch

knitting basket weave stitch