I just figured out something that really helps my ribbing appear more even. You know that knit stitch just before the next purl stitch. That one was always kinda stretched out and looked bigger than the knit stitch before it. Well, if after doing that stitch and tug a little and push down on the top of that stitch (over the needle) and hold it down with my index finger while making the next purl, it gets much less stretched out. I was so happy to discover this. :happydance:
I am trying to figure out watch you mean. Do you mean the purl stitch is stretched out after the knit? I have noticed that too. I read somewhere one this site that is because the purl has to come to the front and then wrap around which uses more yarn than the knit. They said to wrap the purl clockwise instead of counterclockwise and that way you use less yarn. But when you are on the next row that purl stitch will be twisted and so you have to knit into the back of it on the second row. I am trying to visulize what you are saying about holding it down. When you do the knit before the purl you are pushing the knit at the top down and are you then purling tighter with your tension also?
I had heard of that way of lessening the problem before, too, but I’m not sure how it would work when knitting in the round, which I am (I’m making socks).
What I mean is that it is the knit stitch, not the purl stitch, that is stretched out. For example, in a 2x2 ribbing, where you have (going from right to left)
P2P1K2K1
I found this pic on Google images. If you look closely at the first and second groups of knit stitches from the left, you can see that K2 looks uneven and generally larger than K1 immediately to the right.
http://handmade.loriz.ca/b2-img/2x2ribbing.jpg
K2 looks stretched out. It looks bigger than K1. So after making K2, while the yarn is still in back, push down on the top of that stitch. Just take your index finger and press it down on the stitch. Your finger will be pushing down on the loop on the needle and also the feeding yarn right behind the stitch. Holding the yarn down like this prevents it from stretching out and pulling me yarn when you bring it to the front to make the next purl stitch.
If I had a video, I would show you. hmmm . . . okay, just took pics. pic one is after making the knit stitch just before the purl stitch. pic 2 is after bringing the yarn to the front to purl, still holding down the coming from the last knit stitch.
Thank you, great pics that really helped. :notworthy: Do you knit continental? Is that why you can do it that way? After I finish this sweater I am working on now I want to learn continental. Then when I knit with two colours it will be easier to hold the yarn in two different hands.
That’s cool. I used this method and it makes beautiful ribbing.
Jan, I had heard about that way of improving ribbing. Can it be adapted for working in the round?
I’m not sure, but I’ve been wondering the same thing. Frankly, I haven’t been having any problems with ribbing in the round except on DPNs, but I will test it and see what happens.