Knitting on the wrong side means working from the back of your fabric instead of the front, and it reverses how your stitches look

When you knit on the wrong side, the face of your work is turned away from you. This happens most often when you're working in the round on circular needles and need to purl, or when you're following a pattern that calls for working flat but you've accidentally flipped your piece. The key is understanding that a knit stitch on the wrong side looks like a purl stitch on the right side, and vice versa. If your pattern says to knit, but you're looking at the wrong side, you'll actually purl to create the same visual effect on the finished fabric.

Many knitters panic when they realize they've been working the wrong side, but the solution is straightforward: read your stitches, not your pattern instructions. Your hands will do the opposite of what the pattern says, and your fabric will come out correct.

Key Takeaways

  • A knit stitch on the wrong side produces a purl stitch appearance on the right side, so reverse your stitch instructions when working from the back.
  • The easiest way to stay oriented is to mark your right side with a safety pin or stitch marker before you start, so you always know which way you're facing.
  • If you're working in the round and need to purl, you'll actually knit on the wrong side to create the purl texture on the outside of your work.
  • Reversing your stitches mid-project is possible but requires careful attention to where you are in your pattern repeat.

Why patterns sometimes require working the wrong side

Certain stitch patterns and construction methods force you to work from the wrong side. Intarsia colorwork, for example, often requires you to work a row from the back so you can carry yarn colors correctly on the inside of the fabric. Brioche knitting and some cable patterns also call for wrong-side rows to create the texture properly.

When you're knitting in the round on circular needles and your pattern includes purl stitches, you're technically working the wrong side of a flat piece. The pattern writer accounts for this by telling you to purl when you would normally knit. If you follow the written instructions exactly, your fabric will look right on the outside.

How to read stitches instead of pattern instructions

The most reliable method is to look at what's already on your needles and do the opposite of what you see. If the stitch facing you looks like a V (a knit stitch), and your pattern says to knit, you're on the right side—knit as written. If the stitch facing you looks like a bump or horizontal line (a purl stitch), and your pattern says to knit, you're on the wrong side—purl instead.

This works because the appearance of a stitch on one side of the fabric is the opposite of what it looks like on the other side. A knit stitch viewed from the back looks like a purl stitch from the front. By reversing your action, you create the same visual result on the finished piece.

Write out the reversal before you start if the pattern is complex. Create a small chart where you replace every K with P and every P with K. Keep it next to your needles so you don't have to think about it row by row.

Marking your right side to avoid confusion

Before you cast on, place a safety pin or a contrasting stitch marker on the right side of your fabric. This single action prevents most wrong-side mistakes. Whenever you sit down to knit, glance at your work and confirm which side is facing you before you begin.

If you're working a large project or setting it down for days at a time, this marker becomes invaluable. You won't have to guess or count rows to figure out your orientation. The marker stays in place and moves with your work as you progress.

What to do if you've already worked several rows on the wrong side

If you've knitted several rows before realizing you're on the wrong side, you have two choices: frog back (unravel) to the point where you switched sides, or continue forward if the mistake doesn't affect your pattern.

For stockinette stitch or straightforward patterns, a few rows on the wrong side often won't show in the finished piece, especially if the fabric will be seamed or folded. For colorwork, cables, or textured stitches, the error will be visible, and frogging is the better choice. Unravel back to the row where you switched, place your stitches back on the needle, and resume with the correct orientation.

If you're frogging, count your rows carefully and use a lifeline (a piece of yarn threaded through a row of stitches) to catch your work if you drop a stitch during the unraveling process.

Working the wrong side in circular knitting

Circular needles create a continuous loop, so technically you're always working the right side of a flat piece. However, some patterns ask you to work flat on circular needles and turn at the end of each row, which means you'll work wrong-side rows just as you would on straight needles.

When you turn and work back across, you're now facing the wrong side of your fabric. Your pattern instructions will account for this by telling you to purl when you would knit on a right-side row. Follow the written pattern exactly, and your fabric will be correct.

If you're working in the round continuously and your pattern includes purl stitches, those purls are being worked on the wrong side of a theoretical flat piece. The pattern writer has already reversed the instructions for you, so knit and purl as written.

Fixing orientation mistakes in colorwork and cables

Colorwork and cable patterns are unforgiving when worked on the wrong side because the visual result is when ready obvious. A cable that should twist to the right will twist to the left. A colorwork motif will be reversed or upside down.

The only reliable fix is to frog back to the beginning of the section that's wrong and restart with the correct orientation. Use a lifeline before you begin frogging so you can catch your stitches quickly. Once your stitches are back on the needle and you're facing the right side, follow your pattern as written.

To prevent this, mark your right side before you start any colorwork or cable section. Double-check your orientation before you begin each new row, especially if you're setting the project down between sessions.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I knit when the pattern says purl on the wrong side, will my fabric look wrong?

No. When you're on the wrong side, knitting creates a purl appearance on the right side of the fabric, which is what you want. The pattern instructions assume you're on the right side, so reversing them on the wrong side produces the correct result.

How do I know if I'm on the right side or wrong side?

Look at the stitch texture. The right side is the side you want people to see—usually the smoother, more finished-looking side. The wrong side is the back. If you're unsure, place a safety pin on the side you consider the right side before you start, and check it whenever you sit down to knit.

Can I work an entire project on the wrong side intentionally?

Yes, if your pattern is symmetrical or if you're creating a reversible fabric. Garter stitch looks the same on both sides, so it doesn't matter. For stockinette or textured stitches, working the entire project on the wrong side will reverse the appearance of your pattern, which may or may not be what you want.

What's a lifeline and why do I need one?

A lifeline is a piece of yarn threaded through a row of stitches to catch your work if you drop a stitch while frogging. Thread it through every stitch on a row you want to keep, then unravel below that row. If a stitch drops, the lifeline stops it from running down multiple rows.

Do I need to reverse my pattern if I'm working in the round?

Only if you're working flat on circular needles and turning at the end of each row. If you're working continuously in the round, follow your pattern as written—the pattern writer has already accounted for the fact that you're working the wrong side of a theoretical flat piece.