A Guide to Knit Stitches
The stitch structure decides a knit's stretch, weight, texture and look. Here are the ones you'll meet most often, and where each earns its place.
Naming the right structure in your tech pack gets you the fabric you pictured. Here's a working glossary of the common ones (the full A–Z lives in our knitwear glossary).
The everyday structures
- Jersey (single knit) — the basic smooth knit; soft, light, with natural stretch and a tendency to curl at edges.
- Rib (1×1, 2×2) — vertical ribs with excellent elasticity and recovery; the go-to for cuffs, hems and close-fitting bodies.
- Cable — crossed stitches forming rope-like texture; classic, structural, warm.
- Pointelle — small decorative holes; lightweight, feminine, breathable.
- Links-links — purl-based, highly elastic, reversible texture.
- Interlock — stable, smooth double-knit that resists curling.
- Milano & ottoman — substantial double-knits with rib-like structure and great drape.
- Honeycomb — textured, insulating, with body.
Structure drives behaviour: ribs stretch and hug, cables add warmth and structure, pointelle lightens and breathes, double-knits (milano/ottoman) give weight and drape. Pick structure for how you want the garment to behave, not just how it looks.
Combining structures
Most garments mix structures — a jersey body with rib cuffs and hem, a cable front with a plain back. On Shima Seiki and Stoll we can engineer these transitions cleanly. Show where each structure sits on your sketch and we'll knit it to plan. Request a quote.
Ready to make it?
Send a tech pack, a reference garment or a brief. We respond within one business day with a capacity check, indicative pricing and a sample timeline — direct with the founder.