Twisted Stockinette

Add a little kick to your stockinette stitch!  Twisted Stockinette stitch is very simple to do; the only difference from regular stockinette stitch is you will be knitting the stitches through the back loop to twist them.  Like regular stockinette stitch though, your fabric is going to have some curl to it.  You can help the curl a bit by adding a border.  A simple garter stitch border will do the trick nicely.  Seed stitch will also work.  For a border, just work a few rows in garter or seed stitch before you begin knitting in twisted stocking stitch, then the same number of rows again in garter or seed before binding off; add extra stitches to the beginning and end of each row as well to be worked in garter or seed stitch.  This probably won't eliminate the curl completely, but it does help.  

I will show you two different versions; the pink yarn is what I learned as Twisted Stocking Stitch, but it is also known as Zig Zag or Crossed Stocking Stitch.  The one knit with purple yarn is given in Barbara A. Walker's First Treasury as Twisted Stocking Stitch.

Both versions are worked on any number of stitches.

For the pattern shown in purple yarn:
Row 1: Knit all stitches through the back loop
Row 2: Purl all stitches through the back loop

Repeat these two rows for pattern

For the pattern shown in pink yarn:
Row 1: Knit all stitches through the back loop
Row 2: Purl all stitches normally

Repeat these two rows for pattern

Here is a video showing both of these versions.  Happy Knitting!

Ribbing 2: Uneven Rib and Mock Rib

Last time, I talked about your basic ribbing (1x1, 2x2, etc.).   But rib stitch doesn't stop there.  This time I'm going to show you how to do some other types of ribbing.  These stitches are a little more fancy, if you will.  So if you're tired of ho-hum ribbing, get your needles ready for a new experience!

Uneven Rib:
Work with a multiple of 4 stitches (4, 8, 12 and so on)
Row 1: *Purl two, Knit two*
Row 2: Knit one, *Purl two, Knit two*, end row with Knit one
Repeat these two rows for pattern

Mock Rib:

Work with a multiple of 3 stitches, plus 1 (3, 6, 9 and so on, plus 1 extra stitch)

Row 1: Knit all stitches (this is the 'right' side of the fabric)

Row 2: Purl one *With yarn in front, slip the next two stitches as if to purl, Knit one*

Repeat these two rows for pattern

The above are just a couple of the variations on the rib stitch.  I will be posting additional rib stitch patterns in the future, so be sure to come back!

Here is a video on each of the above.

Ribbing: Knit 1, Purl 1 - Knit 2, Purl 2 - Knit 3, Purl 3

In the photo to the left, I've knit ribbing in K1, P1 then K2, P2, and finally K3, P3. You can knit ribbing any way you like. Try K2, P4 or K3, P2 or whatever you feel inspired to do. One thing to remember about ribbing is that it tends to pull in, so take that into consideration when designing your project. You can use the pull to your advantage for some light waist shaping of sweaters; 2x2 ribbing is the most stretchy, and is good for cuffs, necks, and the like. Below are instructions for 1x1, 2x2, and 3x3 ribbing; don't be afraid to try other combinations though. You are only limited by your imagination! And if it doesn't work out the first time, it's only yarn. Rip it out and try again.

Knit 1, Purl 1 Rib:
Cast on an even number of stitches
Row 1: *Knit one, Purl one*
Repeat for desired length of ribbing
(You may also work this ribbing as *Purl one, Knit one*)

For 1x1 Ribbing using an odd number of stitches:
Row 1: *Purl one, Knit one*
Row 2: *Knit one, Purl one*
Repeat these two rows for pattern

Knit 2, Purl 2 Rib:
Work with a multiple of 4 stitches (4, 8, 12 and so on)

This will result in a fabric that has 2 knits along one side edge and 2 purls along the opposite side edge
Row 1: *Knit two, Purl two*
Repeat for pattern

If you would like your fabric to have 2 knits along both side edges -

Work with a multiple of 4 + 2

Row 1: *k2, p2; rep from *, end k2

Row 2: *p2, k2; rep from *, end p2


Knit 3, Purl 3 Rib:
Work with a multiple of 6 stitches (6, 12, 18 and so on)
Row 1: *Knit three, Purl three*
Repeat for pattern
(You may also work this ribbing as *Purl three, Knit three*)

Here are videos for each of the rib stitches above.