Knitting · Beginner · 1-2 hours for practice swatches

Garter, Stockinette, and Ribbing

Knit and purl stitches mix together to make different fabrics. These three patterns are the most common. Learning to read your stitches helps you know what to do next and spot mistakes.

V = a knit stitch, bump = a purl stitch. Garter has ridges of bumps; stockinette is smooth Vs; ribbing has columns of each.

You'll need

Yarn and needles
A few practice swatches of 20 or more stitches

Step by step

Tick each step as you go if you like; ticks stay on this device.

Know a knit from a purlA knit stitch looks like a little V, like a V-neck sweater. A purl stitch looks like a bump across the stitch, like a turtleneck.
Garter stitchKnit every row. Both sides look the same, with bumpy ridges. Two rows make one ridge. It lies flat and doesn't curl.
Stockinette stitchKnit one row, purl the next, and repeat. The front is smooth rows of V's. The back is all bumps. The edges tend to curl.
Knit 1, purl 1 ribbing (k1, p1)Cast on an even number. Knit 1, purl 1 all across, moving the yarn between the needles each time. On the next row, knit the V's and purl the bumps.
Knit 2, purl 2 ribbing (k2, p2)Cast on a multiple of 4. Knit 2, purl 2 across. On the next rows, knit what looks like a V and purl what looks like a bump.
See why ribbing stretchesRibbing makes up-and-down columns that pull in and spring back. That's why it is used on cuffs, hat brims, and waistbands.

Tips

Ribbing is often knit on needles a size or two smaller than the rest of the project.

If something goes wrong

Problem	Fix
Your ribbing turned into a seed-like bumpy pattern.	You knit a bump or purled a V. Look at each stitch before you work it.

Sources

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