Trying to knit a rib stitch - what am I doing wrong?

[BIWI]

I know that a rib stitch should be K1P1. But I just can't seem to do it right.

I cast on my 34 stitches (for a Woolly Hugs square), and then did K1/P1, but it was really messy and then very difficult/impossible to knit the second row.

I pulled it out the first time, thinking it was just me having had too much wine but then it happened again tonight when I tried again.

Any clues/ideas where I'm going wrong? I think it might be something to do with where the yarn is in terms of in front of/behind the needles, but other than that I have no idea.

[NotQuiteCockney]

Hard to say, without seeing it.

A single row of k1p1 rib will look messy, really. It doesn't fall into line as a rib stitch until you've done at least three rows.

One thing you could check, though - are there still 34 stitches when you've knitted the whole row? If there are more, it's possible you are accidentally adding YO stitches, sometimes, when moving the yarn from front to back and vice versa.

[NeitherShreddedNorSmug]

Hmmmm, are you moving your yarn back and forth with every knit and purl?

Are you finishing each stitch (as in passing it over)?

Are you knitting too tightly?

Difficult to say without seeing what you are doing

[NeitherShreddedNorSmug]

x-post with NQC!

[Gwlondon]

I had this problem trying to do rib! Yes, the wool has to be moved backwards and forwards so you don't make an extra stitch. Knit, wool at back. Purl wool at front. So the wool keeps going backwards and forwards.

[yoyo123]

after you have knitted a stitch, you need to move the wool to the front of the work to purl, purl stitch, then move wool to back of work to knit a stitch..difficult to explain. Have you tried looking for a video tutorial?

[tribpot]

You might need to post a picture - and not on your profile so we have half a chance of being able to see it without a microscope :)

[BIWI]

I think I may be knitting too tightly.

I have pulled it out twice after only knitting one row, as it was such a mess, so may need to try harder!

I have moved the yarn from front to back to accommodate either knit or purl, so I was thinking I had done the right thing.

I will try again, and then if I can't do it will post a picture.

[tribpot]

You can always ditch the rib in favour of a garter stitch border - knit every stitch. Easier to get started with.

[TheNinjaGooseIsOnAMission]

it does look messy, as pp said, rib for about 3 rows and you should see it coming together and count your stitches at the end of the row to check you haven't added any stitches, garter stitch makes a nice border too

[BIWI]

So how many rows of garter stitch should I do, to get started?

[TheNinjaGooseIsOnAMission]

depends, I'd go for 4 or 6. I've put a pic on my profile of a square with 4 rows of garter stitch border, it's a 7" square so slightly bigger than yours

[BIWI]

That's pretty!

I started a basic, garter stitch square in frustration last night, so I'll finish that one first, and then have another go.

[TheNinjaGooseIsOnAMission]

thanks I've put some k1p1 rib photos on my profile, row 2 looks awful but by row 3 you can see the pattern emerging

[BIWI]

My first row didn't look anything like that, so I was definitely doing it wrong. I suspect I may have been winding the wool round to bring it to the front.

[TheNinjaGooseIsOnAMission]

you should be passing the wool between the points of the needles so just bringing from the back to front without any winding round as that will create extra stitches

[TheNinjaGooseIsOnAMission]

is quite simple to see

[annikamenzies]

I've had the same problems - this thread was so helpful. Turns out the only issue was not bring the yarn forwards and back. It's coming out great now, thank you x