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| Photos above © mgb |
Lattice with Seed Stitch is a beautiful textured
knitting pattern that combines the appearance of broad woven bands
with a background of small seed-stitch texture.
Although the finished fabric can look surprisingly complex, the
underlying idea is created primarily with basic
knit and purl stitches.
This Amazing Knitting guide explains how the texture is constructed,
how to recognize the different sections, where it works best, and what
to watch for when using it in your own knitting projects.
About This Stitch Guide
Lattice with Seed Stitch is a textured knit-and-purl stitch concept
rather than one specific garment pattern. Different stitch references
may arrange or begin the repeat differently, so always follow one
complete version consistently when knitting a project.
Lattice with Seed Stitch at a Glance
Type: Textured knitting stitch
Main Techniques: Knit and purl
Visual Style: Lattice / basketweave over seed-stitch texture
Common Repeat: 18-row texture sequence
Common Flat-Knitting Multiple: Multiple of 14 + 2 stitches
Skill Level: Advanced beginner / confident beginner
Good For: Blankets, scarves, cushions, panels and home accessories
What Is Lattice with Seed Stitch?
Lattice with Seed Stitch is a textured knitting pattern that creates the
illusion of broad strips passing over and under one another.
Between these larger visual bands is a smaller, pebbled texture similar
to seed stitch.
Together, these elements create a fabric that can resemble woven
basketry even though the effect is produced with ordinary knitting
stitches rather than actual weaving.
It Looks More Complicated Than It Is
One of the most appealing things about this texture is the difference
between its appearance and its underlying technique.
At first glance, the broad lattice sections can look like cables or
crossed stitches.
In common versions of the stitch, however, the effect is created mainly
by carefully arranging knit and purl stitches.
This makes it an interesting next step for someone who already knows the
basic stitches but wants to create a more sophisticated-looking fabric.
Understanding the Three Textures
It helps to stop thinking of the design as one complicated pattern and
instead look for the simpler textures inside it.
1. Seed-Stitch Areas
The small alternating knit-and-purl sections create the pebbled
background.
Seed-style texture visually separates the larger bands and gives the
fabric additional depth.
2. Smooth Vertical Sections
Columns of smoother stitches help form part of the apparent lattice.
Because smooth stockinette-style areas reflect light differently from
seed stitch, they appear to sit above or apart from the background.
3. Horizontal Ridges
Horizontal garter-like sections interrupt the vertical areas.
When these sections alternate across successive repeats, the eye begins
to interpret them as strips weaving over and under each other.
Why It Resembles Basketweave
Basketweave knitting does not require actual strands to cross one another.
Instead, contrasting knit-and-purl surfaces create blocks that appear to
change direction.
Lattice with Seed Stitch takes that visual idea further by combining the
larger woven-looking structure with a finer seed-textured background.
No Cable Needle Is Required
Despite the interlaced appearance, common versions of this stitch do not
require traditional cable crossings.
That means you can achieve a surprisingly architectural texture using
skills you may already know.
The Repeat Structure
Widely published versions of Lattice with Seed Stitch use an
18-row repeat.
For flat knitting, a commonly published setup is:
Multiple of 14 stitches + 2
The additional stitches help frame the repeating lattice units when the
fabric is worked flat.
Why We Are Not Reprinting 18 Rows Here
A Note About Stitch Variations
Published references do not all begin and arrange the 18-row sequence
in exactly the same way. Rather than mixing instructions from several
tutorials, choose one complete version and follow it consistently from
beginning to end.
This is especially important when comparing online stitch dictionaries.
Two instructions may create essentially the same visual texture while
numbering the beginning of the repeat differently.
Mixing the first half of one version with the second half of another can
destroy the alignment of the lattice.
Is Lattice with Seed Stitch Reversible?
Treat this as a right-side texture.
The decorative lattice effect is intended to be viewed from the front,
while the reverse side has a different appearance.
This does not prevent you from using it in scarves or blankets, but it is
worth considering when both sides of a finished project will be visible.
What Yarn Works Best?
This stitch is not tied to one specific yarn weight.
You can experiment with different yarns as long as you use needles
appropriate for the yarn and create a fabric with enough definition to
display the texture.
Smooth yarns usually make the lattice easier to see.
Solid Colors Show the Texture Clearly
If the lattice effect is the main feature of your project, a solid or
gently tonal yarn is often a good choice.
The shadows created by knit and purl stitches become part of the design.
Highly variegated yarn can still be attractive, but strong color changes
may compete visually with the stitch texture.
Choose Needles for the Fabric You Want
There is no single universal needle size for Lattice with Seed Stitch.
Choose a needle appropriate for your yarn, then make a swatch.
If the fabric is too loose, the woven-looking structure may become less
distinct.
If it is too tight, the fabric can become stiff and the knitting may be
uncomfortable to work.
Swatching Is Especially Useful
A swatch lets you evaluate more than gauge.
Before committing to a large project, check:
- How clearly the lattice appears
- Whether the seed texture is visible
- How much the fabric curls or lies flat
- The drape
- The appearance of the wrong side
- How the yarn behaves after washing or blocking
Keep Track of the 18-Row Repeat
The individual stitches are straightforward, but an 18-row sequence is
long enough to lose your place.
A row counter can make this stitch much easier to manage.
You can also keep a printed or handwritten repeat beside your work and
mark each completed row.
Learn to Read the Fabric
As the pattern develops, try to identify the lattice sections visually
instead of relying only on the row number.
Ask yourself whether the next section should continue a vertical band,
create a horizontal interruption, or return to the seeded background.
Learning to read the fabric makes mistakes easier to spot before they
continue through several rows.
Watch Your Knit-to-Purl Transitions
Because this texture frequently switches between knit and purl stitches,
pay attention to the position of the working yarn.
Move the yarn between the needle tips when changing from knit to purl or
purl to knit.
Accidentally taking the yarn over the needle can create an unwanted extra
stitch.
Seed Stitch Can Reveal Tension Differences
Alternating knit and purl stitches can make uneven tension more visible
than plain stockinette.
Try to keep your movements relaxed and consistent.
With practice, the small irregularities often become less noticeable,
especially after appropriate blocking.
Good Projects for Lattice with Seed Stitch
This texture works particularly well when you want the knitted fabric
itself to be the main decorative feature.
- Blankets and throws
- Cushion and pillow fronts
- Scarves
- Home-decor panels
- Bag panels
- Sampler blankets
- Textured garment panels
Using It for a Blanket
A blanket gives the lattice enough space to repeat several times across
the fabric.
Before casting on a full-size blanket, knit a repeat swatch and measure
its width after washing.
You can then use that measurement to estimate how many repeats are needed
for your desired blanket width.
Using It for a Pillow
A cushion front is an excellent smaller project for experimenting with
this texture.
The right side remains visible most of the time, so the non-reversible
nature of the stitch is less important.
A simple stockinette or fabric back can keep the lattice as the main
decorative feature.
Using It for a Scarf
Lattice with Seed Stitch can create an attractive textured scarf, but
remember that the two sides look different.
If you want an identical appearance on both sides, choose a truly
reversible stitch instead.
If you are happy with a decorative front and different reverse, the
lattice can make a striking scarf fabric.
Is This a Beginner Stitch?
The individual techniques are beginner-friendly because the texture is
based primarily on knit and purl stitches.
However, keeping track of a longer repeat requires more concentration
than basic garter, stockinette or seed stitch.
For that reason, it is a particularly good project for a
confident beginner or advanced beginner.
Skills to Know First
- Casting on
- Knit stitch
- Purl stitch
- Moving yarn correctly between knit and purl
- Reading repeated instructions
- Counting stitches
- Binding off
Practice on a Small Swatch
There is no need to begin with an entire blanket.
Cast on enough stitches for a few repeats and work until you can clearly
see the lattice forming.
A practice swatch gives you a chance to understand the structure before
committing yarn to a larger project.
Blocking the Finished Texture
Gentle blocking can help even out the seed-stitch background and make the
larger lattice sections look more consistent.
Always use a blocking method appropriate for the fiber content of your
yarn.
Avoid overstretching the swatch, because excessive stretching can flatten
the raised texture that gives the pattern its character.
Learn the Lattice Seed Stitch
For a complete current demonstration of this stitch, Studio Knit provides
both written guidance and a video tutorial for flat knitting and knitting
in the round.
View the Lattice Seed Stitch Tutorial →
More Knitting Stitches on Amazing Knitting
Explore More Stitch Tutorials
Before You Begin
Choose a smooth yarn that lets you see the texture clearly and make a
small swatch before planning a larger project.
Keep track of your repeat carefully, pay particular attention when moving
between knit and purl stitches, and periodically step back to check that
the lattice sections remain aligned.
Most importantly, remember that online stitch references may begin the
sequence at different points. Follow one complete version consistently
rather than combining rows from several tutorials.
Editorial note: This Amazing Knitting page is an
educational guide to the Lattice with Seed Stitch texture. Stitch
dictionaries and tutorials may present variations or different starting
points for similar lattice textures. Always follow the instructions for
the specific version you choose.
