Turn + Slide
If you’ve ever knit something flat, whether a washcloth, scarf or blanket, chances are you are really familiar with the concept of turning your work at the end of each row. It’s second nature! But have you ever encountered a pattern that asks you to turn your work at the end of some rows and to slide your work at the end of others? Our Turn + Slide Tutorial shows you exactly what to do when you face this instruction!
Turn + Slide is used for working stripes or multi-color patterns while knitting flat (most often one-row stripes, but two-color linen stitch is also common). Here’s why you need a technique for these situations: Imagine you work a row in Color A and now you want to knit the next row in Color B, but when you turn your work to do that, the Color B yarn isn’t there; it’s back at the beginning of your needles. The simple way around this obstacle is to use circular needles and the Turn + Slide technique.
Watch our Turn + Slide video Tutorial below, which is particularly helpful if you’re knitting our Color Wash Blanket, or follow along with the instructions at the bottom of the page!
Click To See Video Transcript
Hi, this is Whitney from Purl Soho. I’m going to demonstrate how to work a Turn + Slide. This technique is for working one-row stripes or any odd number row of stripes, but most commonly one-row stripes. Here’s why you need a technique for this situation. So imagine that you work a row in Color A, you’ve brought the Color A yarn to the end of your needles, and now you want to knit the next row in Color B. But when you turn your work to do that, Color B isn’t there. It’s back at the other end of your needles. The simple way around this quandary is to use a set of circular needles and the Turn +Slide technique.
Here I’m demonstrating with a little swatch of our Color Wash Blanket, which uses turn and slide for the two color garter stitch section of the pattern. For this project, we’re going to alternate stripes of the old colors from the previous section with new colors for the next section. We start with a setup row, which is simply knitting a row with the old colors, then cutting a super long tail and winding it into a ball. This is really specific to the Color Wash Blanket, and unless this is the pattern you’re working on, you’ll simply knit a row with your first color.
Okay, so we have our little ball of old colors here. And now at the end of the setup row, the pattern says to slide work. All this means is to keep the same side of the work facing you and to simply slide your stitches to the right end of your circular needles like so. Now without turning the work at all, and with the same side facing you, you start the next row by joining the new colors for the Color Wash Blanket row, one of the two color garter stitch pattern instructs you to use the new colors to purl to the end of the row.
Aha. So normally when you work garter stitch flat, you’d knit every row, but because we slid the last row, instead of turning, you now have knit stitches facing you. And so in order to maintain garter stitch, you have to purl this row. So you purl across this row with the new colors.
Okay, we’re reaching the end of this row, and the next instruction is to turn work. Good. This means to do what you would normally do when you’re knitting rows. You transfer the needle from your left hand to your right and the needle from your right hand to your left, flipping the work around so that the other side is facing you. Now I’m ready to work row two, and the old colors are right here ready for me. And because I’m looking at knit stitches, I’m going to have to purl this row in order to stay in garter stitch. So I’m going to purl to the end of this row.
Okay, so I’m purling to the end of this row, and when I get here, I realize that I need the new colors next and that they’re at the other end of the needles. So keeping the same side facing me, I’m going to slide my work to the right end of my needles, and there is the yarn waiting for me. And so for row three, because I’m looking at a previous row of purl stitches, I’ll use these new colors to knit to the end of the row.
Okay, I’ve reached the end of my row, and now I’m going to turn my work just as instructed for row four of the two-color garter stitch pattern. Just like the setup row, I’m going to pick up my old color and knit to the end of this row. So even though you have three things going on at once, you’re alternating colors, you are purling a row, knitting a row, you’re turning and sliding. It’s actually hard to go wrong. Just follow your pattern, keep your stripes in order, and your stitch pattern intact, and you’ll be good to go. And that’s how you Turn + Slide. It’s a wonderful little technique for one-row stripes.
TURN WORK
“Turn work” means to do what you would normally do when knitting rows: Transfer the needle from your left hand into your right hand and the needle from your right hand into your left, flipping the work around so the other side is facing you.
SLIDE WORK
“Slide work” means to keep the same side of the work facing you and to push all the stitches to the right end of the circular needles. Without turning the work, just start the new row as you normally would. You will know you’re doing this technique correctly when the yarn you need to complete the next row is right there waiting for you!
That’s all there is to Turn + Slide. Give it a try with our Colorfield Hand Towels, Sunday Dinner Dishtowels, Nature’s Palette Wrap or Blanket, or our Color Wash Blanket!
Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our free knitting patterns and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!
I am delighted to have found this site. There are a variety of aspects that I find I’ll be exploring.
The video on “turn and slide” as well as the article itself, is simple, clear snd direct. I found a gazillion videos and comments, explanations but none as well done as yours.
But I still find myself with a little problem. How do you slide the work on your circular needles when they are stuffed with stitches almost all the way from needle-to-needle?
I do am looking forward to your explanation.
Thanks in advance from someone who’s been knitting since she was eight and pretty much, still knits like an eight year old. (Perhaps that isn’t fair to most competent eight year olds).
Hi Harley,
Thank you for writing in! In this case you would just begin knitting at the other end. Since sliding stitches is ultimately to get them to the opposite side of your needles, if your stitches are already there then you don’t need to technically slide them over! I hope this helps!
All the best,
Gavriella
You know, I kinda figured that out. Because I watched and rewatched and rewatched you’re video and read you’re clear descriptions of ‘Turn Work’ and ‘Slide Work’. Still I wasn’t sure; I thought there might be something more to it or something I didn’t understand.
I appreciate your simple further explanation. Of course it makes sense.
But I had that doubt, second-guessing myself.
You have made my day. Such a simple thing that I made into a conundrum that literally was causing me to lose sleep. How silly of me.
But, I really appreciate your help, given very kindly without laughing so hard you fell out of your computer chair.
Then again, perhaps you did. I’m glad then to provide some entertainment.
thanks muchly,
I’m a fan
(of your guys website, now and in the future)
We completely understand and are always here for a little confirmation and assistance! Happy knitting!
Super easy and great effect! But the video could’ve been done better by using 2 yarns in a contrasting colors. Watching your video on a small screen, like a phone, your yarns look like the same color!
I cannot access your video tutorials. It says they are blocked because of its privacy settings. IS there a way I can watch. I’m not sure how to do this on circular needles. Thanks
Deb
Hi Deborah,
It sounds like you may need to adjust your settings on your browser before you are able to view the videos. If you are still running into trouble, could you please send a screen shot of the error page to [email protected] so we can have a deeper look? We’ll be able to better visualize what’s going on that way!
All the best,
Gavriella
Thank you for this tutorial. It was very helpful. I would suggest doing this video again with 2 colors that have more contrast. As a visually impaired knitter, that pink on pink/orange was very hard to see.
Hi Rita,
Thanks for writing in, although I’m so sorry to hear that the colors were difficult to see! I’ll pass along your comment to the rest of my team, and we’ll be sure to take it into account in future tutorials. Please let me know if there’s anything else I can help you with in the meantime!
All the best,
Lili