Kitchener stitch invisibly grafts two pieces of knitting together through the live working stitches. This technique is frequently used to close the toe of socks or the tips of mittens. With right sides facing you, lay the pieces to be joined with the needles parallel. Each needle must have the same number of stiches, and the stitches on each needle should be spaced to match the stitches on the other needle. Cut the working yarn, leaving a long end, and thread this end through a yarn needle. Hold the two pieces of knitting with the wrong sides facing and the needles parallel, placing the needle with the yarn end at the back. Step 1 Insert the yarn needle as if to purl in the first stitch of the front needle. Pull the yarn through, leaving the stitch on the needle. Step 2 Insert the yarn needle as if to knit into the first stitch of the back needle. Pull the yarn through, leaving the stitch on the needle. Step 3 Insert the yarn needle as if to knit in the first stitch of the front needle (the same stitch as before) and slide this stitch off the needle. Insert the yarn needle into the next stitch on the front needle as if to purl, but leave the stitch on the needle. Step 4 Insert the yarn needle as if to purl in the next stitch on the back needle, and slide this stitch off the needle. Insert the yarn needle in next stitch on back needle as if to knit. Pull the yarn through, but leave this stitch on the needle. Step 5 Continue working back and forth across row until all stitches are joined, pulling carefully as you work. When the last stitch is worked, pull the yarn end through the center of the stitch and pull gently to close. Weave in remaining end on the wrong side.
