Lacy Ribbing Stitch

What if we add a simple lace to the classic 2×2 ribbing?

It is probably the question that led some clever knitter to developing a stitch pattern described in this tutorial.

That knitter was right – by combining the airy texture of lace and the reversible texture of ribbing, we get the best of both worlds – a lacy fabric that looks exactly the same on both sides and doesn’t curl at the edges.

We’ll never know whether that clever knitter planned for it, or whether it was just a happy coincidence, but this lacy ribbing pattern has one more wonderful feature – it is incredibly easy to knit.

In this tutorial, we’ll see how we can add this stitch to projects worked flat and the ones worked in the round.

Huge thanks to @galeem713 for sharing this stitch with me in a comment on one of my videos on YouTube.

THIS STITCH IN A NUTSHELL

• Level of difficulty – Easy
• Reversible? Yes
• Textured? Yes
• Best for – Scarves, cowls, shawls, summer tops, light sweaters, beach dresses
• Stitch multiple – 4 stitches
• Row multiple – 1 row / 2 rounds

VIDEO TUTORIAL
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WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS

HOW TO KNIT LACY RIBBING BACK AND FORTH

Cast on a multiple of 4 stitches.

If you’d like to add a special treatment to the side edges, cast on two extra stitches to make Silesian selvedges, brioche selvedges, or your favourite way to decorate side edges.

Use any cast-on method you like. Because this stitch pattern has moderate stretch, it works well with most types of cast on. For my swatch, I used a slingshot version of the long-tail cast on.

There is only one pattern row to remember. Here it is.

Pattern row: [ purl 2, make a yarn over, knit 2 together ], repeat the brackets to the end of the row.

If you added selvedges, remember to work one of them before you start the first pattern repeat, and work the other selvedge after you finish the last pattern repeat of the row.

For example, if you decided to use the Silesian selvedges method, knit the first stitch of every row through the back loop. Then repeat the sequence in the brackets until you get to the last stitch. This stitch is the second selvedge, and we slip it purlwise with the yarn in front of the work.

Whether you added selvedges or not, repeat the pattern row until your project is as long as you want it to be.

HOW TO KNIT LACY RIBBING IN THE ROUND

To add this stitch pattern to a seamless project, cast on a multiple of 4 stitches.

Arrange stitches for working in the round on double-pointed needles, two circular needles, or one circular needle (with or without using the magic loop method).

Join stitches in a circle and place a marker to mark the beginning of the round.

Because we don’t turn the work when we knit in the round, one pattern row is not enough. To add this texture to a seamless project, we need a two-round pattern repeat.

Round 1: [ purl 2, make a yarn over, knit 2 together ], repeat the brackets to the end of the round.

Round 2: [ purl 2 together, make a yarn over, knit 2 ], repeat the brackets to the end of the round.

Repeat these two rounds. Soon you will see that the yarn overs paired with decreases form lovely columns of eyelets separated by two stitches of ribbing.

Turn the swatch to the other side and try to find a difference between the two sides of the fabric. I bet you won’t find one. The two sides are absolutely identical.

The flat, lacy, reversible texture of lacy ribbing is perfect for scarves, shawls, cowls, light sweaters and cardigans, summer tops, and beach coverups.

Now you can easily add this stitch pattern to any project, no matter whether the project is worked back and forth or in the round.

And when it is time to bind off stitches, it is best to bind them off in pattern. This way, the ribbing texture will not get flattened.

If you notice that the fabric has a slight diagonal curl, don’t panic. It will go away as soon as you block your project.

CHART

If you are not sure how to read a knitting chart, here’s a guide for beginners that explains what knitting charts mean, how to understand the symbols, why there is a red frame in a chart, and how to read lace, cable, or any other knitting chart when knitting back and forth or in the round.

GIVE IT A TRY!

Take any yarn and needles in a size recommended for this yarn and cast on 12 stitches.

Follow instructions for the pattern row until you make 10 rows.

Look at the texture of your swatch, stretch it to see how elastic it is, and notice that there is no difference between the right and wrong sides.

What is the first project that comes to mind? When you submit your choice in the fully anonymous poll below, you will see what other knitters picked.

PATTERN CARD

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