3x3 Ribbing is twisted and loopy

#1

I have been teaching myself to knit with books and videos for several months now. I finally got the stockinett stitch down pat and wanted to move on to ribbing. I have a super cute pattern for a neck cozy that I want to make but I am having some serious problems with 3x3 ribbing. I knit 3, Purl 3 repeat to end of row. I have done this many times and it doesn’t come out looking anything like ribbing. I have watched the video for ribbing on this site several times and it seems that I am doing it the same way. Can anyone give me any advice on this pattern of ribbing? I know it is a vague question but I need help! I have knitted as many as 7-8 rows and still can not discern an obvious “rib” look. Unlike with garter and stockinette where the stitches all seem to be lined up neatly coming off the needle these stitches seem to twist around and are not aligned completely. Also, the stitches look loopy and bumpy. Sometimes the loops look sort of knotted together and are tight. Any advice will be helpful even if you can’t envision what I am talking about! I really want to make this cozy!

#2

When you do a ribbing, it’s important to knit the knit stitches and purl the purls as they face you. Until the stitches become obvious, remember to start a row with a purl if you ended with a knit and vice versa.

Make sure that your bring the yarn to the front between the needles to purl and to put it back between the needles when you knit.

The first couple of rows of ribbing often look a little cruddy, but you should be able to see the ribbing pattern developing.

#3

Thanks for your quick response. I have been at work all day and not able to put your advice into practice but I think it has something to with “it’s important to knit the knit stitches and purl the purls as they face you. Until the stitches become obvious, remember to start a row with a purl if you ended with a knit and vice versa.”

I think I know what you mean by “as they face you” and I didn’t know about alternating the first stitches of a row.

Thanks again. I will let you know how it turns out tonite!