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Daisy stitch knitting is a beautiful and surprisingly simple way to add texture to your projects.
You can do daisy stitch knitting by working with a multiple of four stitches plus one, and it creates a lovely pattern of tiny flowers that pop off the fabric.
If you have been wondering how to do daisy stitch knitting, you’ve come to the right place because it’s an easy repeat that works up quickly once you get the hang of it.
The daisy stitch knitting technique is perfect for blankets, scarves, and even baby garments since it’s reversible and has a lovely, dimensional feel.
In this post, we’ll walk you through the daisy stitch knitting pattern step by step, so you can master this charming stitch in no time.
Let’s dive into how to do daisy stitch knitting with confidence.
How To Do Daisy Stitch Knitting: The Basic Pattern
To learn how to do daisy stitch knitting, you first need to understand the simple repeat that makes this pattern work.
The daisy stitch knitting pattern is worked over a multiple of four stitches plus one, and it only uses knit and purl stitches.
This means even beginners can pick up how to do daisy stitch knitting without much trouble.
1. Cast On and Row One
Start by casting on a number of stitches that is a multiple of four, then add one more stitch.
For example, you can cast on 13, 17, or 21 stitches depending on how wide you want your piece to be.
Row one of the daisy stitch knitting pattern is simply knitting all stitches across.
This first row sets the foundation, and it’s a good way to get comfortable before the pattern repeats begin.
Knitting this base row also helps you see your stitch count clearly, which is essential when you’re learning how to do daisy stitch knitting.
2. Row Two – The Flower Row
Row two is where the magic happens in daisy stitch knitting.
To do daisy stitch knitting on this row, you will *purl 1*, then *knit 1*, *purl 3* repeating across the row.
Wait, let me clarify the actual repeat so you don’t get lost.
The true daisy stitch knitting repeat for row two is: *Knit 3, purl 1* across, and you’ll end with a knit 1 at the end.
So, if you’re working with 13 stitches, you’ll start with knit 3, then purl 1, then knit 3, then purl 1, then knit 3, and the last stitch will be a knit 1.
This combination of knits and purls is what creates the raised flower petals that give daisy stitch knitting its name.
3. Row Three – The Foundation For The Next Flowers
Row three is a repeat of row one, so you’ll simply knit all stitches across.
This plain row helps to separate the flower rows and gives your fabric a balanced, airy feel.
Many knitters find that row three is a nice breather when they’re learning how to do daisy stitch knitting because it’s so repetitive.
Just knit across and you’re ready for the next flower row.
4. Row Four – The Second Flower Row
Row four is where you’ll offset the daisies to create that staggered, all-over pattern.
In daisy stitch knitting, row four goes like this: *Knit 1, purl 3* across the row.
So with 13 stitches, you’ll knit 1, purl 3, knit 1, purl 3, and then the final stitch will be a knit 1.
This offset is what makes the daisy stitch knitting pattern look so organic and full of movement.
After row four, you’ll simply keep repeating rows one through four until your piece reaches the desired length.
It’s that easy to do daisy stitch knitting once you memorize the four-row repeat.
Tips For Perfect Daisy Stitch Knitting
Once you know the basic moves, the next step in learning how to do daisy stitch knitting is mastering a few small details.
These little tricks will make your daisy stitch knitting look neater and more professional.
1. Keep Your Tension Even
Because daisy stitch knitting combines knits and purls, it’s easy to have looser purl stitches than knit stitches.
Try to keep your yarn tension the same throughout the row to avoid wavy edges.
You don’t want your daisy stitch knitting to flare out at the bottom, so pulling your purl stitches gently will help.
If you practice how to do daisy stitch knitting with even tension, the fabric will lie flat and smooth.
2. Count Your Stitches At The End Of Each Row
Since the pattern is a multiple of four plus one, it’s easy to accidentally drop the last stitch.
Get into the habit of counting your stitches after every row, especially when you first start learning how to do daisy stitch knitting.
This will save you from having to rip back an entire row if you lose track.
Keeping a stitch marker at the end can also be a lifesaver when you’re working daisy stitch knitting.
3. Choose The Right Yarn
Daisy stitch knitting looks lovely in almost any yarn, but it really shines in smooth, worsted-weight yarn.
The stitch pattern creates small “bumps” that stand out best in a solid color or even a subtle self-striping yarn.
Avoid highly textured yarns like boucle or eyelash because they can hide the flowers completely.
For your first try at how to do daisy stitch knitting, grab a smooth cotton or wool blend so you can see the stitch definition clearly.
What Can You Make With Daisy Stitch Knitting?
Now that you know how to do daisy stitch knitting, you’re probably wondering what projects to use it for.
The good news is that daisy stitch knitting is incredibly versatile.
1. Cozy Blankets and Throws
Daisy stitch knitting makes a wonderfully thick and cushy fabric that’s perfect for baby blankets.
Since the pattern is a multiple of four plus one, you can easily adjust the width to make a large throw for your couch.
The texture feels lovely against your skin, and the pattern doesn’t curl, which is a huge bonus when you’re knitting blankets with daisy stitch knitting.
2. Scarves and Cowls
A scarf made with daisy stitch knitting has a beautiful, dimensional quality that plain stockinette just doesn’t offer.
The pattern is thick enough to be warm but still drapes nicely around your neck.
Plus, because the daisy stitch knitting pattern is the same on both sides, your scarf will look neat no matter how it wraps.
3. Sweaters and Cardigans
If you’re feeling a bit more ambitious, daisy stitch knitting can be used for the body of a sweater or cardigan.
The fabric has enough weight to hold its shape, so it works beautifully for button-up cardigans.
Just be aware that daisy stitch knitting is denser than stockinette, so your sweater will be on the warmer side.
So, How Do You Do Daisy Stitch Knitting?
Daisy stitch knitting is easy to do once you remember the four-row repeat.
You can do daisy stitch knitting by casting on a multiple of four plus one, then working the knit and purl rows we discussed above.
The key to how to do daisy stitch knitting is simply staying consistent with your tension and stitch counts.
Hopefully, you now feel confident enough to grab your needles and try daisy stitch knitting for yourself.
It’s a rewarding pattern that produces stunning results, and once you learn how to do daisy stitch knitting, you’ll find yourself using it again and again.
Happy knitting, and enjoy all the beautiful daisies you’re about to create!