Ribbing Question

[Nenwing]

For some reason when I knit ribbing, I notice there is kind of a gap look between the last knit stitch and the first purl stitch. Like say the rib pattern is Knit 3 Purl 3, well between the third knit stitch and the first purl stitch it looks almost like it is "laddering", and I don't really know why its doing this or how to get around it. I think its just where it shifts from knit to purl it makes a bit of a gap, is this normal?

[KatzKnitter]

Are you moving your yarn to the front to purl? Are you purling through the front thread or the rear one?

[hyperactive]

I have not noticed this on my knitting. So I am trying to think how it can come about...

well, maybe it is the method of purling you use? Norwegian for example tends to stretch the stitch that you purl into, depending on how you do it.

Also: is your tension the same on knit stitches as on purls? You can see that when you work stochinette back and firth and take a critical look at the rows: Are they REALLY the same hight and tightness?

Other than that... not that I know where such a laddering can come from, really.

[salmonmac]

I used to see that too when I first started knitting. I think I got over it by consciouslly putting just a little more tension on the yarn between the knits and the purls. You could also try knitting into the back of the knit sts so that you get a twisted knit st. It gives a nice pattern to the ribbing and it may pull the ribbing a little tighter.

[kmaclean]

I notice this myself when I do ribbing as well. It's because (I think, at least ) people usually knit at a slightly different tension than they purl, and when you switch from the knit to the purl it can create a bit of a "gap".

In my case, it's not permanent ... I'll notice this "laddering" effect in the first few rows below my needles, but rows below that are fine. I think that it is such a small gap that the stitches eventually even out as you get farther along. It has never been noticeable in any of my finished projects, so I don't really see it as a negative or something that I need to fix.

If you're only a few rows in, I would suggest toughing it out for a couple of inches and see what you think at that point .... some stitches (especially ribbing in my experience) need at least an inch or so before they really start to look good.

If it's still a problem at that point, then you may need to work that first purl stitch a little tighter.

[suzeeq]

This happens frequently because the distance from the knit to the purl st is a bit longer than between knit sts. It really does even out with washing or blocking the item, but you can try pulling the yarn a little after you make the first purl stitch, or wrapping it backwards, then on the next row knit it tbl.

[Jan in CA]

I figured this out a few years ago and put info on my old blog. If you're knitting in the round you wrap the purl stitch backwards... that is under the needle rather than over. This twists the stitch which makes it tighter. The front looks like normal ribbing, but the back stitch is twisted which is fine for most things. There's a link in the post about correcting this if you're knitting flat.
http://knittingandmore.blogspot.com/

[Nenwing]

I knit continental style, so when I go to put the right hand needle into the first purl stitch, I put it in the "front" of the stitch, in front of the left needle, then upon inserting the right needle I wrap the yarn in front and up to the left then behind and bring it through and that makes my purl stitch.

Further down my knitting it still at the bottom looks a bit stretched (that area between last purl and 1st knit), and I can see it some all the way through.

So, instead I should insert the needle in the back and wrap under and up with the working yarn on the first purl stitch? Or are you meaning knit into the back of the last knit stitch?

At the bottom of the hat (I'm making a baby hat), the ribbing is supposed to turn up to make the "brim", I guess in that case wait to knit into the back until I am further up so when turned wrong side up it doesn't look funny?

:D I always seem to get laddering in the funniest places!

[Nenwing]

I figured this out a few years ago and put info on my old blog. If you're knitting in the round you wrap the purl stitch backwards... that is under the needle rather than over. This twists the stitch which makes it tighter. The front looks like normal ribbing, but the back stitch is twisted which is fine for most things. There's a link in the post about correcting this if you're knitting flat.
http://knittingandmore.blogspot.com/

Thank you for that site!

One thing that is confusing me though, she says:

"So here's what I discovered.. on the first row of ribbing in the round knit into the back of the first purl stitch after a knit segment and wrap the yarn clockwise. Purl any other stitches normally. Do this on every first purl stitch. This twists the first purl stitch."

When I insert the needle in the back of the first purl stitch like like I am knitting, then I wrap it (under or over the needle?), it kinda comes out looking like a knit stitch. I think I'm doing something wrong. Her method though (if I can figure it out lol!) looks like it works!

[Jan in CA]

Thank you for that site!

One thing that is confusing me though, she says:


When I insert the needle in the back of the first purl stitch like like I am knitting, then I wrap it (under or over the needle?), it kinda comes out looking like a knit stitch. I think I'm doing something wrong. Her method though (if I can figure it out lol!) looks like it works!

To knit into the back of a purl stitch you have to do it differently. You reach around from behind to do it. It's easier to understand if you look at the video. Since I don't know if you knit continental or english scroll down to P tbl or purl through the back loop and choose your method.
http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/knitting-glossary