K2 p2 ribbing

Hi Everyone
I am doing the cuff of a bootie and my pattern says 1st row: k1 *p2 k2. rep. from * to last st. k1
2nd row: p1 *k2 p2 rep. from * to last st. P1
repeat last 2 rows (k2 p2) ribbing for 2 ins.
There are an even number of sts. I do this and it just doesn’t seem to work out for me. I looks like kind of a jumble. What could I be doing wrong?

Debbie

Debbie
Could you provide a link to the pattern, it might be easier to put it all together that way.

Are you knitting in the round or flat?

I am knitting flat. the pattern can be found on bernat.com
Free Patterns under baby
I’m not that computer literate so I don’t know how to post links. sorry

The back of a knit st looks like a purl and the back of a purl looks like a knit. When you switch the yarn back and forth for ribbing, you bring it between the needle tips, not over the needle, that’s a common mistake most knitters new to ribbing make. For these instructions you need an even number of sts which is a multip of 4 plus 2. If it’s just a multiple of 4, it won’t work, the ‘plus 2’ sts are the single sts at the beg and end of the rows. When you seam the piece, they’ll disappear and you’ll be left with an even k2 p2 all the way around. Ribbing often takes several rows before it begins to look like ribbing should too.

Row 1: k1 *p2 k2. rep. from * to last st. k1
2nd row: p1 *k2 p2 rep. from * to last st. P1

when I read this, this should work out fine.
Just repeat those 2 rows

k1 p2 k2 k1
p1 k2 p2 p1

(and not just the k2 p2 part!!!)

if you repeat those 2 lines over and over, then you will have a ribbing-pattern. Just be confident.

I’ve done k1 p1 ribbing before and when I turned my work for the next row I thought I always knit the knits and purled the purls. When I am doing these rows I am knitting purled stitches and purling knit stitches. Is this right?

You will knit the knit stitches and purl the purl ones. Pay close attention to how the stitches look when you do the rib. Knit stitches will look like upside down horseshoes. Purl stitches will look like turtle neck sweaters. You’ve got to remember that you have that extra stitch on each end to seam it, so you will begin your k2p2 rib on the second stitch of each row. If you do it properly, you’ll see knit stitch columns going vertically, like columns on a building.

Generally that is what you have to do: knit your knits and purl your purls.

THAT MEANS:

Knit when the previous stitch shows a “V” shape and purl when you see the “bump” under the needle.

It does NOT MEAN:
knit a stitch that you knit in the last row (and vice versa).

if you k your ks and p your ps, you are all set. Then it shall be a ribbing section.

Thanks everyone, I’ll give it a try hopefully it works out for me

I wanted to mention about being careful to read the row you are working on. I noticed that one row says to start with Knit 2 and the other Row says to start with Purl 2 (after the 1st stitch). Check and make SURE you are following the instructions EXACTLY!!!

Make sure you are reading the pattern correctly.
knitcindy

HELP! I have done this over and over but it is just not working out. I do my 1st row K1. *P2. K2. Rep from * to last st. K1. but when I start to do my second row: P1. *K2. P2. Rep. from * to last st. P1. the first 3 sts on my 2nd row are purl sts. so the first st. is ok but the next 2 sts according to the second row, I am supposed to be knitting. Why is this?

Learn what your stitches look like and you won’t have to worry about which row comes next if all you’re doing is ribbing.

I know what they are supposed to look like that’s why I am so confused. Should I now follow what the 2nd row says and just follow the stitches? Could there be a mistake in the printing.

It could be a mistake as yes, you end the first row with 3 knit sts, so you should really begin the 2nd row with 3 purls. Then just k2 p2 to the end of the row. The whole thing is a mistake really, after the first row, or they’ve reversed the k2 p2 parts. So just continue knitting the sts that look like knits and purl the purls [I]on the row you’re knitting now[/I] and they’ll be right.

Hi!
I was under the impression that your row ended on p2 k1 (while the p2 is still within the repeat and then a k1)
do you really end your first row on a k2 plus k1? (that depends on the stitch count and I do not know your stitches)

Yes, that’s exactly how it reads. That’s what is so confusing.

The patterns is actually on the bernat website under New free patterns, the 3 page, entitled pom pom booties

Yep it sure does say that. It’s a typo. Do it like this…

row1: K1. *P2. K2. Rep from * to last st. K1.
row 2: P1. *P2. K2. Rep from * to last st. P1.

Thanks so much everyone for all you help.
Debbie