after a knitting a row of k1 p1 it looks like the most awful messy row of knots. i can make stockingette fairly well but my lust for thick ribbed scarves and subsequent adventures with the seed stich are being thwarted by my inability to overcome this (probably small and easy) obstacle.
so.
please.
help!
xs
Make sure you bring the yarn to the front [I]between[/I] the needles to the front to purl and then back[I] between [/I]the needles to the back to knit.
If your ribbing ends with a purl stitch, start the next row with a knit and vice-versa.
That should cover it.
Also, maybe you should try a knit 2 purl 2 rib instead of a knit 1 purl 1 rib. It may be easier for you to see the distinctions.
It also takes a few rows for ribbing to look like anything other than a mess. Stick with it for a few rows before giving up!
The first thing I thought of - Debi got to before me. It will look quite sloppy after just one row. Go a few more rows and see if it doesn’t look better now. The more rows you get done, the better it evens up.