Learn how to knit a 1×1 rib stitch knitting pattern, the most basic knit ribbing stitch with this comprehensive step by step tutorial!
Ribbing is one of the most used knitting techniques. The biggest advantage of ribbing is that it’s super stretchy and that makes it great for parts of garments that need stretch like the brims of hats, the cuffs of sweaters etc. There are lots of variations on ribbing stitches but today we are going to talk about 1×1 rib stitch.
What is 1×1 Rib Stitch?
1×1 Rib stitch is alternating columns of knit and purl stitches. It is called 1×1 rib because there is one column or knit stitches and one column of purl stitches alternating. 1×1 is a nice tight ribbing stitch that has a very neat appearance and won’t stand out as much next to stockinette stitch, for example. But it is still quite stretchy!
Why is 1×1 rib stitch great?
- 1×1 rib is very easy to knit, you just alternate knit and purl stitches.
- 1×1 is a very neat and tidy stitch and makes a great edge.
- 1×1 rib lays flat and doesn’t curl (though it does squeeze together horizontally)
- 1×1 rib is very stretchy.
- This ribbing stitch is reversible and looks the same on the front and the back.
What does 1×1 rib stitch look like?
Here is a photo of the right side of a swatch of 1×1 ribbing.
Here is a photo of the wrong side of a swatch of 1×1 ribbing.
As you can see, this rib stitch lays flat without blocking and is reversible in appearance.
Tips & Tricks for knitting 1×1 ribbing
- When you knit ribbing, the stitches squeeze together making the knitting narrower than other stitches. Make sure you know if the gauge of the project is meant to measure in a rib stitch or in some other stitch.
- In the same vein, if you are measuring gauge for ribbing, make sure you know if the ribbing should be blocked or unblocked as blocked will usually be slightly more stretched out.
- Be sure you keep your knit and purl stitch tensions even.
- Consider going down a needle size for the ribbing section of a project for a neater appearance.
- Some knitters recommend knitting twisted stitches to make ribbing neater, but I have not seen a totally convincing argument for this. But feel free to try it!
- For best results, use a stretchy bind off to your ribbing. That can be as easy as looesly binding off in pattern.
1×1 Rib Stitch Knitting Pattern (knit flat)
Cast on an odd number of stitches.
Row 1: (k1, p1) and repeat to the last stitch, then k1
Row 2: (p1, k1) and repeat to the last stitch, then p1
Repeat rows 1&2.
Here is a chart for knitting 1×1 ribbing flat:
1×1 Rib Stitch Knitting Pattern (in the round)
Cast on an even number of stitches and join to knit in the round.
All rounds: (k1, p1) and repeat to the end of the round.
Here is a chart for knitting 1×1 ribbing in the round:
1×1 Rib Stitch Video Tutorial
How To Knit 1x1 Rib Stitch
Learn how to knit a 1x1 rib stitch knitting pattern, the most basic knit ribbing stitch with this comprehensive step by step tutorial!
Materials
Tools
Instructions
1x1 Rib Stitch Knitting Pattern (knit flat)
- Cast on an odd number of stitches.
- Row 1: (k1, p1) and repeat to the last stitch, then k1
- Row 2: (p1, k1) and repeat to the last stitch, then p1
- Repeat rows 1&2.
1x1 Rib Stitch Knitting Pattern (in the round)
- Cast on an even number of stitches and join to knit in the round.
- All rounds: (k1, p1) and repeat to the end of the round.
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