Also called plain knitting or straight knitting, stockinette stitch is created by knitting on one side of the knitted work and purling on the other side, creating a smooth fabric, unbroken by decorative stitching. If the knitter is working "in the round" (knitting in a continuous spiral), stockinette stitch is created by knitting every round.

Reverse stockinette stitch is the purl side of the work.

Also called stocking stitch.