Rice Stitch

Rice stitch, sometimes called moss or grain stitch in some traditions, makes a firm fabric covered in tiny even specks by twisting alternate stitches. On the right side you knit across, and on the wrong side you alternate a purl with a twisted knit, working that knit through the back loop so it crosses at the base, which pops a small firm grain to the surface. Rows of these scatter the grains into a fine, regular, all-over texture that is tighter and crisper than seed stitch and lies very flat. Because the twisting firms the fabric, rice stitch resists stretching and keeps its shape, so it suits structured cushions, sturdy scarves, and the bodies of jumpers where you want quiet, dense texture rather than drape. It is barely harder than seed stitch, the only new move being the twisted knit through the back loop, and it works up at a similar pace. The wrong side carries the pattern while the right side reads as a smooth speckled knit.