A friend pointed out that last week that my Tale of Two Cowls post called the same stitch both moss stitch and seed stitch, and that she thought they were different stitches.
This is the stitch I’m talking about…
Pattern worked over an even number of stitches
- Row 1 *k1, p1, repeat from *
- Row 2 *p1, k1, repeat from *
Repeat rows 1 and 2.
I believe the above stitch is called both moss stitch and seed stitch, because when my mum taught me to knit, I learnt this pattern was called moss stitch. However, when knitting exploded on the internet, it became apparent that on the opposite side of the Atlantic it’s called seed stitch. This was my reasoning for using both names; in my head I was knitting a moss and stitching stitch cowl, but I named the pattern Seed and Stocking Stitch Cowl, because the alliteration sounded better.
All clear so far?
It was clear for me too until my friend said moss stitch was a different stitch.
I googled.
Several US references I checked (including Craftsy) also thought so. They call this moss stitch…
Pattern worked over an even number of stitches
- Row 1 *k1, p1, repeat from *
- Row 2 and 3 *p1, k1, repeat from *
- Row *k1, p1, repeat from *
Repeat rows 1 to 4.
Being a Brit, I call this double moss stitch, and, quite frankly, shouldn’t this be double seed stitch in the US? I googled and found it being called double seed stitch by Vogue Knitting.
Hurrah for Vogue Knitting! Nice and logical.
But then I found another popular US reference (New Stitch a Day ) calling it double moss stitch – despite calling what I think of as moss stitch, seed stitch. Not logical at all! And we now have three names for this…
To add to the confusion Barbara Walker calls this double seed stitch….
Pattern worked over an even number of stitches
- Row 1 and 2 *k2, p2, repeat from *
- Row 3 and four *p2, k2, repeat from *
Repeat rows 1 to 4.
However, if you check out both Lion Brand’s site and New Stitch a Day they call the stitch above box stitch.
All nice and clear now?
Mmmm. So what I conclude is, if you’re looking at an American designers’ pattern this very likely to be called seed stitch…
… unless they call it rice stitch – which I’ve also seen it called, but not dared google further. In the UK patterns are likely to call it moss stitch – unless the designer learned from an American source (or if the alliteration works better).
Beyond that it’s anyone’s guess. Although you might be on a safe wicket if a Brit mentions double moss stitch that it’s this…
While I’m off resting my brain, please feel free to add your thoughts on the matter.
Yep, totally confused now! I grew up calling it Moss stitch, too.Whatever it’s called, it’s my least favourite as its like single rib and takes ages:)
LikeLiked by 2 people
It is a pain, but it is pretty and not so bad if just a small panel on an Aran jumper.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m with you and call it moss stitch and double moss stitch. In France, moss stitch is ‘point de riz’ or rice stitch.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like ‘point de riz’ sounds very pretty 🙂 But then French tends to make things sound prettier 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
OMGoodness….I think I need to lie down LOL 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Isn’t it fascinating how different parts of the word attach different meanings to words? This post is a great example of how confusing it can get when it comes to technical terms! Haha. Ps: Did you know that here, in Canada, a “jumper” is called a “sweater”, and a jumper refers to a one piece garment – pant and top together, sort of like an overall? Although maybe “overalls” also have a different meaning over there! I would say stick with your definition of it. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! Yes, the clothing is amusing. I think your jumper in Brit speak is a jumpsuit? That’s if overall means the same to both of us. Of course the minute you mention pants we Brits find it very amusing because pants to us are underwear. We say trousers. I tend to attempt to stick with sweater to avoid confusion all round. I think jumper is more English, but we all understand sweater too 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I did not know about the pants! Haha! I love calling sweaters “jumpers” now, sometimes… Just like the sound of it! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
While I’m retraining myself to use sweater! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
…and by”it” I meant your stitches!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My head hurts now…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mine was definitely swimming and I was genuinely amazed when I went to knock up a few quick swatches that I was only writing about three different patterns 🙂
LikeLike
Probably not helpful but I thought seed stitch was plain stocking stitch with spaced out ‘reversed’ stitches on every fourth row – so 2 rows st st, 3rd row knit 2, (p1, k5), repeat till end. row 4, 5, 6 st st. row 7 k5, (p1,k5) row 8 st st – repeat all 8 rows. That should, if I’ve got the calculations right put the ‘seeds’ from the second patterned row in the middle of the earlier row’s seeds. You could have more plain rows, you could space the ‘seeds’ further apart, I suppose it depends on the yarn weight.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Mary, even more confused now. Think I’d better go for another lie down then read your comment again. 🙂
LikeLike
Sorry 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I always called it seed stitch, and the double of it, double seed stitch. Have seen it referred to as moss stitch as well, and always assumed it was the same, I wont; anymore. And I also hate it, as it is slow going – much as I hate 1×1 rib. Don’t love 2×2 rib much better… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another not fan 🙂 – but it does have a lovely effect.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do like how it looks, just not getting there!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m counting, that’s three of you in the anti moss(seed)/rib stitch fan club! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I got a headache just reading your title! Now I’m completely bamboozled. It’s pretty obvious folk just make up names for stitches – maybe they thought they invented the stitch and gave it a name when we all worked pre-internet- in isolation…….. I call it moss stitch and it’s one of my favourite stitches, especially with a chunkier yarn, as it makes a thick fabric 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
An interesting thought. I’m sure a lot of it does come from mixing UK rooted and US definitions – but I do think people making teaching videos or tutorials, should acknowledge all the possible names, not just say the name they are using is it. Look at double and single crochet, that really is confusing for beginners!
LikeLike
No thoughts Bekki, my brain is way too worn out now 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorry xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
No need for apologies, it was fun to read 🙂 I wonder how all the crochet and knitting terms got altered or whether they were always different? Xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think they were always different, but as the world got connected we discovered we knitted the same stitches but called them different names.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Crazy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahahahaha!! What a crack up. I’m in the moss stitch club, but with many of us reading knitting and crochet patterns from all over the world now, I bet most of us are multilingual! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ha ha! I always said I was rubbish at languages, but obviously not 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love your post, sitting here chuckling away. Go moss stitch!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad I made you laugh 🙂
LikeLike
I loved this post. I grew up knowing it as moss stitch, but as I knitted more and got patterns from all around the globe, I learned that moss stitch can be seed stitch. My mind still thinks of it as moss stitch.
I had a good laugh reading this post and comments, as I know all about the different meanings for words, specially around here. The different names we have for things that are known by another elsewhere is mind-boggling at most times. 🙂
But that is a whole different story.
Have a good weekend. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you liked the post. I do love language that multitasks too, but not in knitting 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person