This is part 2 of our beginner knitting series. In this post, we’re going to create knit 1, purl 1 ribbing and then how to do a knitted cast off.
Ribbing
Knitted ribbing is a great way to begin lots of different projects, like hats, the edges of a sweater, or even blankets. It can also be the foundation which can lead you to seed stitch, knit 2, purl 2 ribbing, and check out this post about a neater ribbing, but let’s first get the hang of standard ribbing.
So start by casting on with your method of choice, using an even number of stitches. For a simple beginner level, knitted cast on, check out this post.
Row 1: Knit 1, then bring your yarn between your needles to the front, purl the next stitch, then bring the yarn back to the back. Continue knitting and purling each stitch across the row.
If you get distracted by kids, or drop your coffee, and have to stop in the middle of a row. You may not be sure what stitch you stopped on. Option 1: you can definitely count from the beginning of the row, knit, purl, knit, purl, etc. Or you can look at your stitches, knit stitches look like the v-stitch, and purl stitches look like a bump.
When you turn your work around to go back, continue knitting and purling, matching your stitches. Knits on top of knits and purls on top of purls as you did in the first row. At this point, you can follow a pattern for the length of your ribbing. Or if you’re making a hat, usually 1.5-2″ is a good length to move into the body of your hat. So use your measuring tape or ruler and measure up from the bottom of your work.
This picture, at right, I used a 2×2 ribbing, so I casted on a multiple of 4 stitches. Then the pattern is knit 2, purl 2 around. Because this hat was a newborn hat, my ribbing is smaller, around 1″. Then I knitted each row, until the hat measured 4″. Check out this post, for a hat size guide. It includes the circumference of the bottom of the hat and the crown size. This will help in determining when to start your decreases. If your hat length is longer, it’ll be slouchy but shorter means it probably won’t cover their ears, so I’d recommend adding an extra inch or 2 before decreasing so it’s not too short.
A Couple of Tips
- Make your knitted circumference about an inch smaller than the head size of the wearer.
- I usually recommend using a smaller needle size (about .5mm less) than for the body of the hat, just for the ribbing. Using a smaller needle keeps it together a little better.
Swatches
When choosing how many stitches to cast on, you can make a small swatch with the yarn and needles you’re going to use. Or use the gauge written on your package, using the same size needles it recommends. This can vary a bit depending on your tension, but it’s a good place to start.
To create a swatch, I will cast on about 20-30 stitches, and knit in stockinette for 10-15 rows, and then measure. Ideally, measure 1-2″ and count your stitches. You want to use the number within 1″, but if its an uneven number, you want to use the half. So, if I measure 7 stitches in 2″ then I want to use 3.5 times the number of inches needed for the hat size I want. Multiply by number of inches needed to get to the size you’re looking for. For a 16′ head circumference, I’ll make a 15″ hat, so 15 times our 3.5 stitches per inch, which is 52.5 stitches total. Obviously, we can’t cast on a half stitch, so round your number of stitches up.
The same goes for the number of rows. If you made 6 rows to get to 1″ on your swatch, but your pattern or gauge says 5 rows, you’ll need to add extra rows to ensure your sizing matches the pattern. I try to make these notes right on my patterns so if I put the project down for a while, I don’t forget those important details.
Casting off (Binding off)
Taking your stitches off you needles at the end of the project, is called casting off or binding off. There are many different ways to cast off but, for this tutorial, I will show a common and simple cast of suitable for a beginner knitter.
So, when you get to the end of your work, and you’re ready to cast off, knit or purl your first 2 stitches, depending on your pattern. Then take the first stitch from the right needle off by inserting your left needle into it, like a knit stitch, and lift it over the second stitch and off the needle. Continue working in this manner, lifting your first stitch over the next, until you get to the end of the row. Then cut your yarn and pull on the loop until the tail comes through. Then I will tighten the tail, and weave in my ends.
Watch this video for a great idea of how to do it.
Finally, if you’d like some help with materials to get you started, check out the below links for some great products that I use as well. To get started, choose a good worsted weight yarn, or bulky, for your first project so you can get a feel for how knitting works.
Don’t be discouraged if your work isn’t perfect the first time you make something. I’ve been making and giving away hats for about 10 years now, and I think I was able to understand what I was doing because I’ve been crocheting for a looooong time. This doesn’t mean it will take you a long time to get really good at knitting, but there definitely is a learning curve.
Also, start with something small like a hat, scarf, or a pair of slippers, for your first project. Something big like a blanket, or sweater can be too daunting, and if/when you make a mistake can discourage a lot of new knitters. Also, ask questions!!! Please! Either in person, if you have a friend, or in any of my comments sections, here or on YouTube. I’ll answer!
Try my Knitting Needles: Bamboo Set, Double Pointed Set.
Check out our store for an easy knitted hat pattern.
Thanks for hangin’ out with me!
