plain stitch

plain stitch, basic knitting stitch in which each loop is drawn through other loops to the right side of the fabric. The loops form vertical rows, or wales, on the fabric face, giving it a sheen, and crosswise rows, or courses, on the back.

Plain-stitch knitting is a filling knit construction and can be made by hand and on both flat and circular knitting machines. The fabric produced is flatter and lighter in weight than other knit types, with more stretch in the width than in the length. The plain stitch is used for underwear, hosiery, T-shirts, gloves, and sweaters.