The right side is the side you want people to see
The right side of knitting is the finished face of your work — the side that shows your pattern, texture, and color work the way you intended. The wrong side is the back, where yarn floats, bumpy stitches, and loose ends live. Most of the time, the right side looks smoother, more polished, and more intentional than the back.
Knowing which is which matters because it changes how you finish your edges, where you weave in ends, and which side you block or press. If you sew seams on the wrong side by accident, your finished piece will look uneven or inside-out. Patterns also assume you know which side you are working on — when a pattern says "purl on the right side," it means the side facing outward on the finished garment.
Key Takeaways
- The right side is the face of your work that shows the pattern and texture you intended; the wrong side is the back with loose floats and bumpy stitches.
- Stockinette stitch looks smooth and V-shaped on the right side and bumpy and horizontal on the wrong side.
- Garter stitch looks identical on both sides, so you choose which side to use as the right side and mark it with a safety pin or yarn tail.
- Mark your right side with a safety pin, yarn tail, or stitch marker as soon as you cast on, so you do not lose track across rows.
- Patterns written for flat knitting assume you know which side faces outward, so checking the pattern photo against your work helps confirm you are on the correct side.
How stockinette stitch reveals the right side
If you are knitting stockinette stitch — knit on the right side, purl on the wrong side — the right side will show neat V-shaped stitches stacked in columns. The wrong side will show horizontal bumps that look like purl stitches. This is the easiest way to tell them apart. The V-side is always the right side on stockinette.
The difference is dramatic enough that you can spot it from across the room. If you hold your work up and see a smooth, flat surface with clear stitch definition, you are looking at the right side. If you see a textured, bumpy surface, you are looking at the wrong side. This holds true whether you are working on a sweater, a blanket, or a dishcloth.
Garter stitch looks the same on both sides
Garter stitch — knit every row — creates horizontal ridges that look identical on both sides. There is no visual difference between the right and wrong side, which means you have to choose which side you want to be the right side and then mark it.
The easiest way to mark your choice is to tie a safety pin to a stitch on the side you want to be the right side, or leave a long yarn tail on that side from your cast-on. Some knitters use a stitch marker on the edge. Once you mark it, keep that marker in place throughout your knitting so you never lose track. When you bind off, you will know which side to finish first.
Ribbed and textured stitches have a clear front
Ribbed stitch — alternating knit and purl columns — looks intentional and neat on the right side and loose or uneven on the wrong side. The ribs stand up cleanly on the right side and flatten or twist on the back. This is especially true in 1x1 ribbing (one knit, one purl) and 2x2 ribbing (two knits, two purls).
Other textured stitches like seed stitch, cable stitch, and lace also show a clear right side. Cables look raised and defined on the right side and flat or reversed on the wrong side. Lace shows the intended openwork pattern on the right side and a tangle of yarn on the back. If your stitch pattern has any texture at all, the right side will be the one where that texture looks polished and intentional.
Mark your right side as soon as you cast on
The safest habit is to mark your right side when ready after you cast on, before you knit a single row. Use a safety pin, a stitch marker, or a length of contrasting yarn tied to the edge. This takes ten seconds and saves you from confusion later, especially if you set your work down for a few days and come back to it.
If you forget to mark it and you are now several inches in, look at your stitch pattern. If it is stockinette, the smooth V-side is the right side — mark it now. If it is garter stitch, pick the side you prefer and mark it. If you are still unsure, check your pattern instructions or a photo of the finished garment to see which side should face outward.
Check your pattern photo to confirm
Most knitting patterns include a photo of the finished garment or item. If you are uncertain which side is the right side, hold your work up next to the photo and compare the stitch texture and pattern. The side that matches the photo is the right side. This is especially useful for colorwork, stripes, or any pattern where the right side and wrong side look noticeably different.
If your pattern is written for flat knitting (back and forth on straight needles or a circular needle), the instructions assume you know which side you are working on. Phrases like "knit on the right side" and "purl on the wrong side" only make sense if you have already decided which side is which. The photo confirms your choice.
Seaming and finishing depend on knowing the right side
When you seam two pieces together — say, a front and back panel of a sweater — you typically sew on the wrong side so the seam is hidden inside the garment. If you sew on the right side by mistake, the seam will be visible on the finished piece. Knowing which side is which before you start seaming saves you from having to rip out and redo the work.
Weaving in ends also goes faster when you know the right side. You can weave ends into the wrong side where they will not show, or into the seam allowance if you are seaming. Some knitters prefer to weave ends into the right side if the yarn color matches the stitches, but that is a choice you make once you know which side is which.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I knit in the round and there is no wrong side?
Circular knitting creates a tube with no seams, so technically both sides are visible. The side that faces outward on the finished garment is still called the right side. Mark it with a safety pin or stitch marker at the beginning so you know which direction you are working and where to start and end each round. This matters for colorwork, shaping, and pattern placement.
Can I use the wrong side as the right side if I like how it looks?
Yes. If you prefer the texture or appearance of the wrong side, you can use it as the right side. Just be consistent — mark it, finish it as the front, and sew seams on the other side. Some knitters intentionally use the purl side of stockinette as the right side for a softer, less defined look.
How do I tell the right side of a reversible pattern?
Some patterns, like garter stitch or certain brioche stitches, look good on both sides. Choose the side you prefer and mark it as the right side. Take a photo of your marked side so you remember your choice if you set the work down for a while.
What if I have already sewn seams on the wrong side?
If your seams are on the right side and visible, you can rip them out and resew them on the wrong side. This is tedious but fixable. For future projects, mark your right side before you start seaming.
Does the right side matter for blankets or dishcloths?
For items that do not have a clear inside and outside — like a blanket or dishcloth — the right side is whichever side you want people to see. If both sides look equally good, pick one and be consistent when you weave in ends and bind off. If one side is noticeably smoother or more polished, that is your right side.