How to Knit 1 over 1, 2 over 2, and 3 over 3 Stitches - Tutorial

These stitches have a beautiful braided look to them that’s just stunning. I’ve got a couple of patterns that use these stitches due for release in the coming months so I thought I’d do a quick tutorial showing how they’re knitted.
 
The one over one stitch is used in my Ae Fond Kiss shawl. It’s worked with a row of elongated stitches before and after to really accentuate it. My 1, 2, 3 Cowl uses 1 over 1, 2 over 2 and 3 over 3 stitches in sequence.
All of these stitches need a set up row. We need a little extra wiggle room in order to be able to lift the stitches up and over each other, and for this we need to work extra yarn overs in the set up row, and then drop them on the next row. Depending on the pattern, this might be a wrong-side or a right-side row.
 
Set up Row on the Right Side: work k1, *yo2, k1* to the end of row. Yo2 just means bring the yarn round the needle twice, instead of once in a normal yarnover.
 
Set up Row on the Wrong Side: work p1, *yo2, p1* to end of row. Just the same as for the right side, but just working purl instead of knit.

 
Now it’s time to work the actual 1 over 1, 2 over 2, or 3 over 3 stitches.
 
First, whether you’re on the rights side or wrong side, you drop yarnovers for 2, 4 or 6 stitches. For 1 over 1, you (slip 1, drop two yarnovers) twice. For 2 over 2, you (slip 1, drop two yarnovers) four times, and for 3 over 3, it’s six times. You then slip these 2, 4 or 6 stitches back to the left needle. You should have 2, 4 or 6 really elongated stitches.
 
We’ll give instructions for the next step according to which stitch you’re working. You knit if you’re on the right side and purl if you’re on the wrong side.
One over one: knit/purl into the second stitch on the needle, lift it up and over the first stitch, and then drop it off the left needle. Then knit/purl the first stitch.
 
Two over two: from right to left, imagine the stitches are numbered 1, 2, 3, 4. You’re going to work stitches 3 and 4 first, then 1 and 2. So you knit/purl into stitch 3 on the needle, lift it up and over the first two stitches, and then drop it off the left needle. Then do the same for stitch 4. Then knit/purl stitch 1, then stitch 2 as normal.
 
Three over three: it’s the same idea, just with six stitches. From right to left, imagine the stitches are numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. You’re going to work stitches 4, 5 and 6 first, then ,1 2 and 3. So you knit/purl into stitch 4 on the needle, lift it up and over the first three stitches, and then drop it off the left needle. Then do the same for stitch 5, then stitch 6. Then knit/purl stitch 1, 2, then 3 as normal.
 
Here's the video showing all three stitches where the 1 over 1’s etc are purled. This is the video you need if you’re knitting the Ae Fond Kiss Shawl – and you can ignore the instructions for 2 over 2 and 3 over 3.

Here’s the video showing all three stitches where the 1 over 1’s etc are knitted. This is the video you need if you’re knitting the 1, 2, 3 Cowl.