Ribbing

Ribbing is an elastic stitch pattern used mainly for hems and cuffs but also if you just like the look. It is made by switching between knit and purl stitches in a repeating pattern creating columns of knit stitches on the right side. 

When knitting flat, it’s important to note that the knit stitches will be the visible column on the front side, and the purl stitch will be the visible column on the wrong side. So, if on the right side your pattern was k p k, on the wrong side it will be p k p. when knitting in the round the pattern will be the same as you’re just going in circles knitting the same side. 

Knit Stitch:

Insert the right needle into the first loop on the left needle from front to back, wrap the yarn, pull a new loop through, and slid the old stitch off. Continue that until your finish your row. 

Purl Stitch:

Ensure the working yarn is in the front of your work, insert your right-hand needle into the first stitch on the left-hand needle from right to left (front to back), with the right needle sitting on top of the left needle, wrap the yarn around the tip of the right-hand needle in a counterclockwise motion, pull the new loop back through the stitch with the right needle and slip the old stitch off the left-hand needle. This results in the reverse of a knit stitch. 

Note:

When moving between knit and purl stitches be sure to remember to move the working yarn from the back to the front or vice versa or else it will either be loose, or you may accidentally pick-up stitches .