How to Work Garter Stitch Ribbing

The garter stitch rib pattern is a textured stitch pattern that is perfect for creating items such as a knitted hat or scarf. This particular stitch pattern gives you a visual ribbed look, but doesn’t quite have the same elasticity as a traditional ribbed pattern, such as knit two, purl two (K2, P2) ribbing. Knitting expert Mary Beth Temple will demonstrate how easy it is to work this stitch pattern, both back and forth in rows as well as in the round.

GARTER STITCH RIB IN ROWS

To work this stitch pattern back and forth in rows, Mary Beth indicates that you’ll want to have a multiple of 4 stitches plus 2 additional stitches on the needle. For example, for a swatch, you might cast on 26 stitches total.

Worked over a multiple of 4 + 2 stitches as follows:

Row 1 (RS): Knit all stitches.

Row 2 (WS): (K2, P2) to the last 2 stitches, K2.

Repeat these two rows to create the garter stitch rib in rows.

GARTER STITCH RIB IN THE ROUND

Mary Beth Temple discusses how to work this stitch pattern in the round, like you would for a knitted hat. To work garter rib in the round, you’ll need to have a multiple of 4 stitches on the needle. In the video, Mary Beth has 100 stitches on the needle, which is what you might need to knit a garter rib hat when working with a fingering weight yarn.

Work garter stitch rib over a multiple of 4 stitches in the round as follows:

Round 1: Knit all stitches.

Round 2: (K2, P2) to end.

Repeat these two rounds to create the garter stitch rib in the round.

Whether you are working in the round or in rows, you’ll be creating vertical columns of Stockinette stitch and garter stitch that are each two stitches wide. Once you learn how to work the garter stitch rib pattern over 4 stitches, you can experiment and make larger vertical columns, if desired. Try experimenting with this attractive stitch pattern!

ABBREVIATIONS

– RS: Right Side

– WS: Wrong Side

– K: Knit

– P: Purl