Knitting Question?

Question

A pattern says cast on 81 stitches
Work in K1, P1 rib for 2 inches

I'm wondering is this wrong, should it be an EVEN number of stitches?. I knitted a few rows and it doesn't look like a rib stitch.
Any advice to this novice knitter appreciated!

thanks Sunny. I understand that the number of stitches is the length but when I k1, p1, with an irregular number of stitches, and i move to another row, the stitches won't line up properly. Should I p1, k1 each alternate row? Hope you understand what I'm trying to do.

I understand the number of stitches across is the going to be the width, but how do you get rows to line up if you have an uneven number of stitches?? Do I begin the second row with K1, p1 as I did in the first row or should I go P1, K1 etc.

Answer 1

If it's a rib, and not the seed stitch, that you are creating, on the wrong side rows reverse the order, do p1, k1 and you'll come out with a ribbed edge.
Usually rib is worked in even numbers, but it doesn't really matter as long as you adjust the order in which you do the stitches for the wrong rows when you are working with an odd number. The designer probably didn't take that into consideration when writing the pattern.

Answer 2

For a 1x1 rib, you knit the knit stiches, and purl the purl stitches.

For your first row, *k1, p1* across. Since you have an odd number of stitches, you'll end the row with a k1.

Now turn your work. The last stitch on the previous row was a knit, so it appears as a purl on this side of the work. So you purl it. Then continue across the row with k1, p1, etc., and you'll end this row with a p1.

On all the following rows, knit the knit stitches and purl the purl stitches. To do this, look at the next stitch on your left needle. Pull the knitting down a bit if you need to. Does the stitch under the loop on your needle look like a "V"? If so, it's a knit stitch so you knit it. Or does the stitch under the loop look like a bump? If so, it's a purl stitch so you purl it.

Eventhough you classify yourself as a novice knitter, it's not too early to learn to "read" your knitting. It'll come in handy for all of your projects.

Answer 3

If the item you are knitting is going to be seamed in the end, like the ribbing on a sweater front to the ribbing on a sweater back, having knit stitches at each end of the width allows the seam to look like a single stitch when done up correctly. It's to allow for visual continuity in the finished product. And no, unless you are doing seed stitch, you must recognize that your alternate row must be worked p1, k1 across to make the rib pattern, which is the correct second row. Your pattern may assume that you understand that to get ribbing you must work the appropriate stitch in the alternate rows.

Answer 4

Actually, I like it better when it's an odd number of stitches (at least when it's a flat piece) because that way the 2 edges look the same. Essentially all you are doing is knit, purl the entire time, because when you end a row with a knit stitch (on the "right" side), you want to start the next row with a purl stitch (on the "wrong" side). And thus you just do knit, purl, knit, purl the whole time. The directions are somewhat misleading though.

If it is knit in the round, then the pattern is wrong and do an even number of stitches and just keep alternating knit, purl.

Answer 5

If it's something knitted flat, with no decreases or seaming, it really would be easier if it was an even number of stitches.
especially with the instructions you've been given.
If not reverse to p1, k1 on the opposite side.
I think probably one or the other is a typo.

This is also why I'm three times more likely to make up my own pattern for something knitted in a rectangle than to follow a pattern.
I've only been knitting a year. And considering the rectangle stipulation, I've only knitted one thing from a pattern and that was a dishcloth with a purl-bump pattern made to look like 3D cubes.

Answer 6

When it says work in K1,P1 rib, you need to purl the knit stitches on the return, and knit the purl stitches. If you have an uneven number of stitches, your last stitch on the first row will be a Knit stitch, when you turn, start purl 1, knit 1. on the return your last stitch will be a purl, when you turn you start with a knit stitch.That way you get the rib.

Answer 7

i have discovered that knitting machines are somewhat complicated to get the draw close of, yet once you commence, that is plenty swifter than hand knitting. I agree that knitting some thing through hand has extra artwork attempt, for this reason having a more suitable impact, yet even doing it on a device takes a lengthy time period, so that isn't any longer like the device does each and every thing for you. because you do not have countless time in which to end it, a knitting device may be your ideal wager. also, with a device, you may want to be particular that the stress continues to be an similar via the completed blanket.

Answer 8

It doesn't matter how many stitches there are; this only means how long your going to make the scarf (or whatever your doing). For the rib stitch: it's sort of hard to explain in words, so try matching the pictures in your book. Good luck!

Answer 9

Pattern says rib over 7, I did this pattern some years ago and have forgotten how to do this, would you k 1, p 1 until you finish the rib over 7?