What "knitting on the wrong side" means and when to do it
Knitting on the wrong side means working with the back of your fabric facing you instead of the front. You're still knitting the same stitches in the same order—you're just looking at them from the opposite direction. The result is that your knit stitches look like purl stitches, and your purl stitches look like knit stitches, because you're seeing them from behind.
You do this intentionally when a pattern calls for it, usually to create a textured or reversible fabric. Some patterns ask you to knit on the wrong side for a few rows, then flip back to the right side. Other projects—like garter stitch blankets or reversible scarves—use wrong-side rows as part of the design. The technique itself is not difficult; it's just a matter of turning your work around and reading your stitches from the back.
Key Takeaways
- Turn your work so the back of the fabric faces you, then knit as normal—the stitch mechanics do not change, only your perspective.
- When you knit on the wrong side, knit stitches appear as purl bumps and purl stitches appear as smooth V's, because you are seeing them from behind.
- Patterns that call for wrong-side rows usually specify this in the instructions, often written as "WS" or "purl side" in the pattern text.
- The most common mistake is accidentally twisting stitches because you are working from an unfamiliar angle—keep your tension steady and your yarn in the same position relative to your needles.
How to physically turn your work and position yourself
Stop knitting at the end of a row. Look at your fabric: one side faces you (the right side, or RS), and one side faces away (the wrong side, or WS). Rotate your needles so the wrong side now faces you. The working yarn should still be attached to the active stitches on your right needle, just as it always is at the end of a row.
Sit in the same position you normally knit in. You do not need to move your chair or change how you hold your needles. The only difference is that the fabric itself is now turned around. Your left needle (the one with the live stitches) is still on the left, and your right needle (the empty one) is still on the right. You are straightforward looking at the back of the work instead of the front.
Reading stitches from the wrong side
When you look at the wrong side of your knitting, the stitch structure appears reversed. A knit stitch, which normally shows as a smooth V on the right side, appears as a horizontal bump or bar on the wrong side. A purl stitch, which normally shows as a bump on the right side, appears as a smooth V on the wrong side. This is because you are seeing the same stitch from the opposite angle.
If your pattern says "knit on the wrong side," you insert your needle into the stitch from the back and pull the yarn through, just as you would on the right side. The stitch you create will look like a purl bump when you flip the work back around. If the pattern says "purl on the wrong side," you purl the stitch, and it will look like a knit V when you flip back. Always read the pattern instructions carefully—they will tell you which stitch to make, and the wrong-side perspective is already built into those directions.
Common mistakes when knitting on the wrong side
Twisting stitches is the most frequent error. When you work from an unfamiliar angle, it is straightforward to insert your needle slightly off-center or to wrap the yarn in a way that twists the stitch. Keep your working yarn in the same position it normally occupies—in front of the needles for a purl, behind the needles for a knit—even though you are looking at the work from the back. Your muscle memory will want to move the yarn to a different spot; resist that impulse.
Losing track of which side is which happens when you set down your work and come back to it later. Before you start knitting, look at your fabric and confirm which side is facing you. If you are unsure, check your pattern notes or look at the texture: the right side is usually the one that looks more finished or polished, while the wrong side may have loose ends or a rougher appearance. Mark the right side with a safety pin or stitch marker if you are working on a large project.
Accidentally knitting on the right side when you meant to knit on the wrong side happens because the pattern instruction is straightforward to miss. Before you start a row, read the pattern line for that row. It will say something like "Row 4 (WS): Knit across" or "Row 4 (WS): Purl across." The "WS" label tells you to turn your work. If you skip this step, you will knit the wrong stitches and your fabric will not match the pattern.
Why patterns ask you to knit on the wrong side
Some stitch patterns require you to work from both sides to create the correct texture. Garter stitch, for example, is made by knitting every row on the right side, or by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side. Both methods produce the same bumpy texture, but the second method is sometimes easier because you do not have to switch between knit and purl stitches—you just turn the work and knit every row.
Reversible fabrics, like scarves or blankets that look good on both sides, often use wrong-side rows as part of the design. The pattern will specify which rows to work from which side. Some colorwork patterns also ask you to work wrong-side rows so that the colors line up correctly on the finished piece.
Keeping your tension even on wrong-side rows
Your tension may feel looser or tighter when you work from the wrong side, straightforward because the angle is unfamiliar. Pay attention to how tightly you are pulling the yarn as you complete each stitch. If your wrong-side rows look noticeably looser than your right-side rows, you are probably pulling the yarn less firmly. Adjust by tightening your grip slightly, or by pulling the yarn a bit more after you draw it through the stitch.
The best way to keep tension consistent is to work a few rows on the wrong side and then flip back to the right side and look at the overall fabric. If the wrong-side rows are visibly different in tension, you will see it when ready. Make a mental note of how the yarn felt in your fingers during those rows, and adjust the next time you work wrong-side rows. Most knitters find that tension evens out after a few rows of practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I purl or knit when the pattern says "knit on the wrong side"?
You knit. The pattern instruction tells you which stitch to make; the "WS" label just tells you which side of the fabric should face you. When you knit on the wrong side, the stitch will look like a purl bump on the right side, but you still make a knit stitch.
What if I accidentally knit on the right side when I should have worked the wrong side?
You will notice because your fabric will not match the pattern. If you catch the mistake within a row or two, you can rip back and redo those rows. If you do not notice until later, you may need to rip back further. Check your pattern against your fabric to see if the mistake is visible enough to matter—sometimes a single misplaced row is not noticeable in the finished piece.
Can I knit an entire project on the wrong side?
Yes, if you turn your work at the end of every row. This is not common, but it is possible. You would see the back of every stitch, so the fabric would look reversed compared to a normally knitted piece. Most patterns do not ask for this, but there is nothing wrong with it if you want to try.
How do I know which side is the right side if my pattern does not say?
Look at the texture and appearance. The right side is usually the one that looks more polished or intentional—smoother, more even, or more visually interesting. The wrong side often looks rougher or less finished. If you are still unsure, pick one side and mark it with a safety pin so you stay consistent throughout the project.
Does knitting on the wrong side change how the stitches sit on the needle?
No. The stitch structure is the same; you are just viewing it from the opposite direction. The stitches sit on the needle exactly as they always do. The only thing that changes is what the stitch looks like from your perspective.