Learn how to do the mattress stitch in knitting for neat, invisible seams that make your projects look smooth and professional.
The Mattress Stitch is a way to sew two knitted pieces together along the edges neatly. It makes the seam almost invisible, which is excellent for joining sweater fronts and backs or other projects. In this tutorial, we’ve shown it with a contrasting yarn so you can see clearly, but typically you’d use the same yarn as your knitting.
Everything About Mattress Stitch in Knitting
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: To do the Mattress Stitch, you’ll sew two knit pieces together by picking up one strand of yarn from each edge, going back and forth as you move up the seam. The strand you’re picking is the little horizontal bar between the knit stitches (the “Vs”).
Tip: If you gently pull the edges of your knitting, you’ll see these bars, like rungs on a ladder. Grabbing one bar from each side pulls the edges together, making it look like one smooth piece of knitting.
Step 2: First, line up the two pieces you want to seam. Then bring your tapestry needle, already threaded with yarn, from the back to the front at the spot where you want your seam to begin.
Step 3: Next, insert your needle under the bar between the two outer Vs on the second piece, directly across from where you came out on the first edge. Watch out for the very edge stitch, as it often curls to the back. Remember, the farther in you stitch from the edge, the thicker the seam will look.
Step 4: Bring the tapestry needle back to the first piece and pick up the bar right above where you first came out.
Step 5: Now move the needle to the second piece and pick up the bar just above the one you grabbed last time on that side.
Note: Depending on how tight or loose your knitting is, you can choose to pick up every bar or every other bar. Both ways work, so it’s up to you.
Keep moving up the edges, sliding your tapestry needle under each bar on both pieces as you go.
Just like in knitting, keeping your tension even will make the seam look neater. Even tension helps avoid pulling or puckering. To close the seam, gently pull the yarn from either the top or bottom. If the seam is long, sew a few inches, then pull to close, and repeat until you reach the end, keeping your tension steady. When you flip your work to the wrong side, you’ll see the seam.
