The right side is the face of your finished fabric that shows your pattern and stitch detail

When you knit, you create two sides: the right side (RS) and the wrong side (WS). The right side is the one you want people to see—it displays your stitch pattern clearly and looks polished. The wrong side is the back, which often looks messier or shows the reverse of your pattern. Knowing which is which matters because you'll work differently depending on which side faces you, and you need to sew seams, add borders, or pick up stitches on the correct side.

The tricky part is that many stitch patterns look similar on both sides, especially early in a project. A garter stitch (knit every row) looks identical front and back. A stockinette stitch (knit one row, purl one row) has a smooth V-pattern on one side and bumpy horizontal lines on the other—the V side is the right side. Once you know what your pattern should look like, you can spot which side is which by comparing what you see to what the pattern instructions show.

Key Takeaways

  • The right side is the face of your fabric that displays your stitch pattern as intended; the wrong side is the back.
  • Stockinette stitch shows smooth V's on the right side and bumpy horizontal lines on the wrong side.
  • Garter stitch looks the same on both sides, so you must mark one side with a safety pin or yarn scrap before you forget which is which.
  • Your knitting pattern instructions will tell you which side to work on for each row, using abbreviations like RS and WS.
  • If you lose track midway through a project, compare what you see to a photo of the finished pattern or ask another knitter to look at your work.

How stockinette stitch reveals the right side

Stockinette is the most common stitch pattern in knitting, and it makes spotting the right side straightforward once you know what to look for. On the right side, you see a field of smooth V-shapes stacked in columns—each V is the top of a knit stitch. On the wrong side, you see horizontal bumps, which are the purl stitches that sit behind the knit stitches.

This difference happens because of how knit and purl stitches work. A knit stitch creates a V on the front and a bump on the back. When you alternate knit rows (which face you) with purl rows (which face away), the knit rows show their V's and the purl rows show their bumps. The side with all the V's is your right side.

If you're following a pattern and it says "knit on RS rows, purl on WS rows," you're creating stockinette. The rows you knit on are the ones facing you and will become the right side of your finished piece.

Marking the right side when the pattern looks the same both ways

Garter stitch (knit every row) and some textured patterns look nearly identical on both sides, which means you can't rely on appearance alone. The solution is to mark one side with a safety pin or a small loop of yarn before you forget which is which.

Attach the marker to your right side while you can still see it clearly—usually when you've finished a few inches and the pattern is obvious. A safety pin clipped through one stitch works well, or tie a short piece of contrasting yarn through a stitch on the right side. Leave the marker in place throughout your knitting. When you finish, you'll know exactly which side to treat as the right side when you seam, block, or add a border.

If you're working a pattern where the right and wrong sides genuinely look the same and you've already lost track, compare your work to a photo of the finished project or ask another knitter to look at it. Most patterns have a clear "front" that will be obvious once you see the whole piece.

Reading pattern abbreviations for right side and wrong side

Knitting patterns use abbreviations to tell you which side to work on. RS means right side and WS means wrong side. When a pattern says "Row 1 (RS): knit across," it means Row 1 is a right-side row—the side facing you as you work is the side that will show in the finished piece.

Pay attention to these abbreviations because they affect how you work each row. On a right-side row of stockinette, you knit. On a wrong-side row, you purl. If you miss the abbreviation and work the wrong stitch, you'll create a purl bump where a V should be, and your pattern will look wrong.

Some patterns also use asterisks or brackets to show which rows are right-side rows. Always scan the pattern key at the beginning to see how that particular pattern marks RS and WS rows.

What happens if you work on the wrong side by mistake

If you work several rows on the wrong side without realizing it, your finished piece will have the wrong side facing out. The good news is that you can usually fix this by straightforward flipping the whole piece over—the "wrong" side becomes the right side, and nobody will know the difference unless the pattern has a clear front and back (like a garment with a specific design).

The problem arises when your pattern has a directional stitch or shaping that only works one way. A cable that twists left will twist right if you flip it. A decrease that slants one direction will slant the opposite way. In these cases, you may need to frog (rip out) your work back to where you switched sides and redo it correctly.

To avoid this, mark your right side early and check the pattern abbreviations as you go. If you're unsure after a few rows, hold your work up to a mirror or compare it to the pattern photo before you go much further.

Identifying the right side in ribbed and textured stitches

Ribbed stitches (like knit-one-purl-one rib) look similar on both sides but have a subtle difference. The right side usually shows vertical columns that look slightly more defined or raised, while the wrong side looks flatter. This is because the pattern is designed to be seen from one direction, even if both sides are technically usable.

Textured stitches like seed stitch, moss stitch, or brioche stitches often look nearly identical front and back, which is actually a feature—these stitches are reversible. If your pattern uses a reversible stitch and doesn't specify a right side, either side can be the right side. Mark one anyway so you stay consistent when seaming or adding borders.

For more complex textures, your pattern will include a photo or diagram showing what the right side should look like. Use that as your reference. If you're ever unsure, lay your work next to the pattern photo and compare the stitch detail.

Checking your work before you seam or bind off

Before you finish your piece, take a moment to confirm which side is the right side. Lay your work flat and compare it to the pattern photo. The right side should match what you see in the finished project image. If your piece is a garment, the right side should be the one that will face outward when worn.

This check is especially important before you seam pieces together or pick up stitches for a border. If you pick up stitches on the wrong side, your border will twist or sit awkwardly. If you seam with the wrong sides facing each other, your seams will show on the outside of the finished piece.

If you've marked your right side with a safety pin or yarn scrap, remove it before binding off or seaming. If you've lost the marker, use the stitch pattern and the photo to identify the right side one more time before you move forward.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use either side as the right side if the pattern looks the same both ways?

Yes, if the stitch pattern is truly reversible (like garter stitch or seed stitch), either side can be the right side. The important thing is to pick one and stay consistent throughout your project so seams and borders line up correctly. Mark your choice with a safety pin so you don't accidentally switch sides midway.

What if I've already knitted several inches and can't remember which side is which?

Compare your work to the pattern photo or a finished example of the same stitch. The side that matches the photo is your right side. If the pattern is reversible and looks the same both ways, pick the side that feels smoother or more polished to you and mark it going forward.

Do I have to start with the right side facing me?

No. You can start with either side facing you—what matters is that you know which side is which and you work consistently. Many knitters start with the wrong side facing them and flip the piece over once they've established the pattern. Just mark your right side early so you don't lose track.

Why does my stockinette look bumpy on one side?

The bumpy side is the wrong side. Those bumps are the purl stitches that sit behind the knit stitches. The smooth V side is the right side. If your whole piece looks bumpy, you may have been purling on the rows you should have been knitting, or you've been looking at the wrong side all along.

Should I mark the right side before I start or after I've knitted a few rows?

Mark it after you've knitted a few inches, once the stitch pattern is clear enough that you're confident which side is which. Marking too early, before the pattern is obvious, risks marking the wrong side by mistake. A safety pin or yarn scrap takes just a few seconds to add.