The wrong side is straightforward the back of your fabric, and you knit it the same way you knit the front
The wrong side of knitted fabric is the reverse face — the side that faces inward when you wear a garment, or the back when you're looking at a finished piece. You knit it using the exact same stitches and techniques as the front. The difference is not in how your needles move, but in which face of the fabric you're working on and what that choice does to the appearance of your finished piece.
Many knitters deliberately work on the wrong side to create texture effects, reverse colorwork, or to hide imperfections in their tension. Others work on the wrong side by accident and need to understand what they're seeing. Either way, the mechanics are identical to knitting the front.
Key Takeaways
- The wrong side is the reverse face of your fabric, and you knit it using the same stitches and needle movements as the front.
- Knitting on the wrong side reverses the appearance of stitch patterns — stockinette looks bumpy, garter stays the same, and colorwork mirrors horizontally.
- You can deliberately work on the wrong side to create texture, hide tension flaws, or achieve a specific design effect.
- Turning your work around and knitting from the opposite direction is the only change required; your hands and needles work exactly as they always do.
What happens to stitch patterns when you knit the wrong side
Different stitches look different on the wrong side. Stockinette stitch, which shows smooth V's on the front, shows bumpy reverse stockinette on the back. Garter stitch — made by knitting every row — looks identical on both sides because the bumps and V's alternate evenly. Ribbing reverses: knit columns become purl columns and vice versa.
If you're working colorwork like Fair Isle or intarsia, the pattern mirrors horizontally when you work the wrong side. A motif that leans right on the front will lean left on the back. This reversal is why some knitters deliberately work wrong-side rows to create intentional mirror effects in their designs.
The key point: you're not doing anything different with your needles. You're straightforward working on the opposite face of the fabric, and the stitch structure naturally looks different from that angle.
When knitters deliberately choose to work the wrong side
Some knitters work on the wrong side to hide tension problems. If your knit stitches are tighter than your purl stitches (or vice versa), working reverse stockinette instead of stockinette puts the bumpy side forward, which is more forgiving of uneven tension. The texture masks small inconsistencies.
Others use wrong-side work to create texture intentionally. A garment knit entirely on the wrong side in stockinette becomes reverse stockinette throughout, giving a completely different fabric hand and appearance. Some designers specify this in patterns to achieve a particular look or drape.
Colorwork designers sometimes work wrong-side rows to create mirror effects or to position a motif exactly where they want it. If you're following a pattern that calls for this, you'll see notes like "work this row on the WS" (wrong side) in the instructions.
How to physically turn your work and knit the wrong side
Turn your work around so the side you want to knit is facing you. If you were just knitting the front, rotate your needles 180 degrees so you're looking at the back. Your working yarn is still attached at the end of your last row — it doesn't matter which side of the fabric it's on.
Knit your next row exactly as you normally would. If the pattern calls for knit stitches, knit them. If it calls for purls, purl them. Your hands and needles move the same way. The only difference is that you're now creating stitches on the opposite face of the fabric.
If you're working flat (on straight needles or circular needles worked back and forth), you'll alternate between knitting the front and knitting the wrong side with each row. This is normal and expected. Most flat knitting involves working both sides regularly — you're not staying on one side for an entire project.
Reading patterns that specify wrong-side rows
Knitting patterns use abbreviations to tell you which side to work on. "RS" means right side (the front), and "WS" means wrong side (the back). A pattern might say "Row 1 (RS): knit across" and "Row 2 (WS): purl across." This tells you to work the first row on the front and the second row on the back.
Some patterns give different stitch instructions for wrong-side rows. For example, a row might say "RS: K2, P2, K2" but the next row says "WS: P2, K2, P2." This is because you're working on the opposite side of the fabric, and the stitches that were knits on the front become purls on the back (and vice versa) to maintain the same visual pattern on the front.
If a pattern doesn't specify RS or WS, assume you're working the front and back in the standard way: knit on one side, purl on the other for stockinette, or knit every row for garter.
Common mistakes when working the wrong side
The most common mistake is forgetting which side you're on and working the wrong stitch. If your pattern says to purl on the wrong side and you knit instead, you'll break the stitch pattern. Check your pattern before each row, especially when you're new to reading them.
Another mistake is losing track of which end of your work is which. Mark your right side with a stitch marker or safety pin if you're working a large project. This prevents confusion after you've set the work down and come back to it hours or days later.
Some knitters accidentally flip their work when they shouldn't, creating a twisted or reversed section. If you notice your pattern suddenly looks wrong, check that you're working on the correct side. A few rows of the wrong side in the middle of a stockinette section will be obvious.
How wrong-side work affects the finished garment
If you knit an entire garment on the wrong side, the texture and appearance change completely. Stockinette becomes reverse stockinette. The fabric may drape differently or feel different against skin. Some yarns and stitch patterns look better on the wrong side than the front, which is why some designers choose this deliberately.
For most garments, you'll work both sides normally — the front on right-side rows and the back on wrong-side rows. This creates the standard appearance you see in most finished sweaters, blankets, and scarves. The wrong side stays hidden inside the garment or on the back.
If you're making a reversible garment (one that looks finished on both sides), you'll pay attention to how both sides look. Some patterns are designed to be reversible, and the wrong side is just as important as the right side.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the wrong side harder to knit than the right side?
No. Your needles and hands move exactly the same way. The only difference is which face of the fabric you're working on. Some knitters find one side easier to see or work on depending on their lighting and how they hold their needles, but the technique is identical.
What if I accidentally knit the wrong side when I meant to knit the right side?
Keep going. You can't damage your work by knitting the wrong side. If you notice after a few rows, you can rip back and start over, or you can keep the wrong-side rows if you like the look. Many knitters have accidentally created reverse stockinette sections and decided to keep them.
Do I need to do anything special to my yarn when I switch sides?
No. Your working yarn stays attached and ready to use. straightforward turn your work around and keep knitting. The yarn doesn't care which side of the fabric it's on.
Why do patterns use RS and WS instead of just saying "front" and "back"?
Because "right side" and "wrong side" are standard knitting terms that work for any project shape. A circular garment doesn't have a clear front and back, but it always has a right side (the outside) and a wrong side (the inside). The terms stay consistent across all knitting patterns.
Can I knit in the round on the wrong side?
When you knit in the round, you're always working on the right side (the outside of the garment). The wrong side faces inward and you never knit on it. If you want reverse stockinette in the round, you purl every round instead of knitting, which creates the bumpy texture on the outside.