Hi, I am knitting a ribbed hat in the round. I get a ladder (the knit stitch looks stretched) when I switch from the knit to the purl. This has been happening on anything I knit in ribbing. I’ve recently looked at my first ribbed scarf and doesn’t have the ladder/strethced stitch. Since knitting my first scarf I have changed to the continental method. Can anyone help me with why this might be happening and what I can to do to prevent it? thanks
I’ve added a picture that sort of shows the problem
It’s common for a knitter’s purl stitches to be a little looser than her/his knit stitches, particularly when using the continental method. This can cause a knit next to a purl look larger than normal. The easiest way to remedy the problem is to consciously make your purl stitches a little tighter.
You can also try combination purling (or another method which involves purling in the wrong direction and then correcting the mount when working the stitch above), but I wouldn’t bother unless purling tighter doesn’t work. Combined knitting works well for simple or flat knitting, but complex stitch patterns are difficult to convert. (This is according to Annie Modesitt, who literally wrote the book on the subject.) Some people use combined just for working straight stockinette or ribbing, but IMO it makes more sense to just work on your continental purling. (This was my conclusion after experimenting with combined.)
Just to be thorough, a final possibility is to purl using a smaller needle, but that won’t always be convenient, unless you’re doing straight stockinette.
BTW, I think your hat looks great! People will be too impressed with the cables to notice any minor (and I emphasize minor) issues with laddering.
Have you washed it? It may distribute some with wash and wear.
[color=blueviolet]I had the same problem and this solved the problem perfectly.[/color]
Nona (who has done great studies on left-slanted increases and short row techniques, BTW) employs the same principle used in combined purling that I mentioned above – purling backwards and then correcting the mount on the stitch in the row above it. I’ve done it and it works great, but (and I know this from experience) it can be difficult to apply when doing more than just knits and purls. Just so you know… I got really frustrated once when trying to figure out a difficult stitch pattern and ultimately ended up deciding to just purl continentally, but tighter. YMMV
thanks. I’ve tried to remember to tighted my first purl stitch, but I find over time of knitting, I get sloppy and forgot. I will look at the other suggestions tonight 
One more thing… if you do decide to try combined, here is a good place to start – she’s got videos. (Grumperina’s style will probably make more sense to you since you’re already a continental knitter. Plus, who doesn’t like videos? Hey, actually, I think Amy’s got videos too… Grumperina’s site is worth checking out for her nifty conversion table, though.)
I bet you can tell that I’ve spent a lot of time examining how to deal with this particular issue, can’t you? :teehee: