Garter stitch is the name of the stitch pattern you create when you are knitting flat and only using knit stitches on each and every row. Garter stitch isn’t a good choice of stitch for knitting an entire garment with as it creates a fabric that sags due to how knit stitches behave when they’re just piled upon each other.
As Patty Lyon states, garter stitch stretches out with gravity when it’s worked on many rows. She tells us to imagine a bunch of acrobats all in a line, each hanging from the high wire, legs hooked around the shoulders of the acrobat above them. But this couldn’t be, you will say. And you would be right. Same goes for your knit stitches. Gravity will do its work and sooner than later, your garment will sag.
Shockingly, I have come across yarn brands selling garment patterns calling for… only garter stitch! Their job is to sell yarn and some people loathe purling. Still, it must be most discouraging to knit a whole cardigan or sweater and see it loose its shape as fast as a Shein pullover!
If you like the look of garter stitch and want to integrate it for many rows in a garment, go for reverse stockinette instead. Stockinette stitch is created by knitting every stitch whilst knitting in-the-round or alternating knit and purl rows whilst knitting flat. Reverse stockinette is created by purling every every stitch whilst knitting in-the-round or alternating purl and knit rows whilst knitting flat. Reverse stockinette is what the back of your stockinette knit looks like.
Reference on how garter stich behaves : Patty Lyon. Patty Lyon’s Knitting Bag of Tricks : Over 70 Sanity Saving Hacks for Better Knitting. David&Charles, 2022, p. 16.
Patty Lyon is a knitting instructor and knitwear designer. She has her own youtube channel and also shares her knowledge through her instagram account.(pattyjlyons).
Unsolicited Knitting Advice 