A lot of knitting projects have ribbing involved in them somehow. Sometimes, though, the ribbing that the designer chose isn’t one that you want to use for your version of the project. Luckily, you can easily swap out different kinds of ribbing, so long as you know what you’re doing.
In this blog post, we are going to talk about how ribbing works, the three steps to choosing the right ribbing for your project, and some examples of different ribbing techniques.
What is Ribbing?
Ribbing is a stretchy fabric created using a combination of knit and purl stitches. Because of how the yarn wraps in different ways when forming knit and purl stitches, the fabric pulls inward a bit and stretches outward when tugged. This creates a fabric with properties that are similar to a very gentle elastic.
You can create lots of different kinds of ribbing by changing the numbers of knits and purls. You can also add decorative elements, but the basic structure of ribbing remains the same. Knits stacked on top of each other and purls stacked on top of each other will create a stretchy fabric every time.
3 Steps to Choosing the Best Ribbing
But some types of ribbing are more elastic than others. Other types of ribbing work better with particular cast-ons or bind-offs. If you want to swap a different ribbing for the designer’s choice, here are three things to consider, first.
1. Think about the purpose of the ribbing
Ribbing in knitting projects can serve several different purposes. Before you decide what kind of ribbing to choose, you first need to understand the purpose the ribbing serves. Here are some common examples.
Texture – Sometimes, ribbing is just there to add visual texture to a project. This is especially true for stitches like broken rib and mistake rib, which don’t add much elasticity to a knit but are very pretty to look at.
Preventing Rolling – Plain stockinette knitting has a tendency to roll in on itself. To counteract that effect, knitters will often place ribbing in strategic places. The balance of knits and purls helps minimize the curling tendency at the edges of knit fabrics.
Improving Fit – Ribbing can also be used to improve the fit of items that are meant to be snug against the body, like socks and beanies. The stretchiness of ribbing allows it to expand and contract over different parts of the body without a lot of extra shaping in the knitting process.
Holding Something in Place – Because of ribbing’s stretchiness, it can be used to hold things in place that might otherwise slide around. The most obvious example is sock cuffs, but you might also see this function on tea cozies and hot water bottle covers.
Closing Off Drafts – Finally, ribbing can be used to close up spots in a garment where a draft might get in. You’ll see this a lot on the necks of turtleneck sweaters and the cuffs of long-sleeved sweaters.
2. Evaluate the stretchiness of the ribbing
Different types of ribbing are more stretchy than others. A 2 x 2 ribbing (2 knits, then 2 purls) is a classic ribbing that is evenly balanced and very stretchy. A 1 x 1 ribbing (1 knit, then 1 purl), while also evenly balanced, is a little stiffer.
If you start changing the balance between knit and purl stitches, you reduce the stretch somewhat. For example, it’s really common in some socks to have four knits and one purl going down the full length of the sock. This will give you some increased stretch, but not as much as doing a full 2 x 2 ribbing all the way down the length of the sock.
The greater the imbalance between knit and purl stitches, the less stretch your ribbing will have.
3. Consider which cast-on or bind-off you want to use
Some cast-on and bind-off methods work best with certain types of ribbing. For example, the Italian tubular cast-on and bind-off both work best with 1 x 1 ribbing. You can make adjustments to work it with a 2 x 2 ribbing, but that requires moving around stitches in a couple of set-up rounds. If you don’t want to do those set-up rounds, you might be better off just working a 1 x 1 ribbing.
If you know that there is a particular cast-on or bind-off method that you would like to use with this project, and that method does not work with the type of ribbing you want to use, you might want to reconsider either the ribbing or the cast-on/bind-off method.
Examples of Different Kinds of Ribbing
Here’s a closer look at some common kinds of ribbing and the different scenarios where you might find them.
1 x 1 Ribbing
You can see 1 x 1 ribbing on the top and bottom of the blue cowl in this photo. Here, the ribbing is used to prevent curling and to add some structural stability to the edge of the cowl.
1 x 1 Twisted Ribbing
You can see 1 x 1 twisted ribbing in the brim of this hat. This type of ribbing is popular as an alternative to 1 x 1 ribbing because it’s easier to get even tension, but it is a little less stretchy than regular 1 x 1 ribbing.
2 x 2 Ribbing
The ribbing on the cuff of these pink socks is 2 x 2 ribbing. This ribbing style is very stretchy and great for cuffs on socks and sleeves.
Fisherman’s Rib
This swatch shows fisherman’s rib, a ribbing texture made using a combination of knit stitches and knit 1 below stitches. This creates a dense, warm fabric.
Mistake Rib
Mistake rib is one of my favorite textures for a scarf, as seen in this swatch. It’s ultra squishy but doesn’t have much elasticity, so I wouldn’t use it for a sock or sleeve cuff.
Broken Rib
Broken rib, as seen in this swatch, is another great textural ribbing that’s great for preventing curling but not great for holding things in place. Use it in a loose garment, on the hem of a shirt that you don’t want to cling too tightly, or as a scarf.
Let’s stay connected!
Join my newsletter for 30% off all new releases, regular updates with helpful tips and tricks, first crack at registration for upcoming workshops, exclusive discounts, and more.
I’m on YouTube now and would love to have you join me there for regular project updates, technique tips, chats about goings-on in the knitting world, and more.
Prefer to read without ads? Join my Patreon, which starts at just $1 a month!
Join the A Bee In The Bonnet Facebook Group to participate in knitalongs and other fun community events
Come hang out with me on the A Bee In The Bonnet TikTok
Follow along on the A Bee In The Bonnet Instagram
Get inspired via the A Bee In The Bonnet Pinterest
