ok, so, I thought I was pretty competent at knitting. I mean, I can do basic stiches, I can even do cables... but I just tried to do ribbing and I'm stuckI'm not sure why. I just can't get it right. I've searched all over the internet (stitchguide.com, yahoo search, etc.) and couldn't come up with anything much. so, anyone want to give me a good explaination of what I'm doing?

(to make it more clear, I'm getting messed up on switching between the knit and purl in the same row. I think I'm curling the yarn around the wrong way or something.)

If you are doing k2, p2 ribbing (this works with any stitch number, though)

Knit 2

The yarn will be at the back because you just did a knit stitch, so move the yarn to the front between the 2 needles and then purl 2. Then move it back between the 2 needles and knit 2, etc., etc.

And on the back, you will purl what was a knit stitch on the front, and knit what was a purl stitch on the front.

I don't know if I answered your question very well...

I'm a new knitter, and just learned this. It's really important to move the yarn from back to front of the needle, and vice versa, when you switch from a purl stitch to a knit stitch. Back for knitting, front for purling, bring it between the needles.

When you get going, you'll begin to recognize what the stitches look like and will see when you should purl or knit, rather than relying on counting.

I hope I'm not over simplifying it.

ok, I get how you bring the yarn to the front, but do you bring it over the top in between? I mean, you can't exactly bring it underneith... but when I bring it through over the top, it's not really a normal purl stitch, and then the second purl stitch kinda seems to go around twice when you wrap it...

I feel like this should be so simple. *scratches head*

edit: the problem seems to be that I get a double loop when I switch from knit to purl. then when I go back to do the next row, I can't knit into it. I know that purl usually has the two loop thing going, but it seems to be, well, kinda reversed so that I can't knit into it the right way. does anyone have any clue what I'm talkign about?

are you purling correctly? you may be wrapping your yarn around the needle the wrong way. it should go anti-clockwise.

ok, I think I got it now.... not sure what it was, but it seems to be working.

except, should there be larger holes in between the ribbing?

no...unless you don't adjust tension or something, or if you accidentally do a yarn-over instead of just bringing the yarn to front/back.

yeah, bring the yarn in between the needles when you move from front to back (and vice versa). MAKE SURE you have the right amount of stitches for the rib you are doing or it wont work as a rib.

-gg

Make sure you aren't wrapping the yarn around the needle - it sounds like you are doing a yarn over.

If you have just purled the yarn will be sort of in the middle of the two needles, just move in straight back *between* the needle tips. Nothing will change on either needle, the yarn will just move from the front in between the needles to the back in between the needles.

so moving the yarn is actually the stitch. yup, ok, then I was right the first time. lol. I guess I started out by doing that right, but doing somethign else wrong, so then it didn't look right... well, at least I've figured it out now.

thanks for all the help!

well, yes and no. just moving the yarn between the needles (making sure there are no extra loops on the needles as a result) isn't the stitch.

once you move the yarn to the front of the work, you need to insert the rh needle into the stitch on the lh needle, from r to left. then wrap the yarn around the rh needle, counterclockwise, and pull the loop through and slide the old stitch off the lh needle. That's the purl stitch.

If you are working another purl stitch, keep the yarn at the front of the work.

If you are working a knit stitch, move the yarn to the back of the work, between the needles making sure there are no extra loops on the needles as a result.

well, yeah, that's what I meant. *blushes* I mean, that's what I'm doing. I'm making the stitch, I just thought before that it was different, that you pulled it through and wrapped it again. thanks!