Twisted Ribbing

#1

No, I’m doing it on purpose! I got Barbara Walker’s Learn-To-Knit Afghan Book for Christmas and I’m working my way through it. Square 6 is twisted and crossed ribbing, and it’s the first time I’ve ever attempted to knit or purl in back loops.

The knitting in back loops is going okay, but I can’t seem to figure out how to purl in back loops without letting go of the working yarn to use both hands to force the needle in there, have the yarn come unwrapped 5 times, have one or both needles fall out 3 times, and then end up throwing the needles across the room in frustration.

Is it possible that I’m misreading the instructions? It doesn’t seem like it should be quite so difficult. If by this square she’s trying to ensure I never make this sort of ribbing ever again, it looks like she’s going to accomplish that…

#2

Purling through the back loops is awkward. You put your needle around the back and put the point in the back of the loop from left to right. You wrap it the way you normally would a purl.

#3

Well then I am doing it right…

Seems like a lot of trouble for something that ends up not looking all that different from regular ribbing, but I guess the point is to learn… :thinking:

#4

It’s supposed to make it a bit tighter. If it’s not worth the effort, you could use a slightly smaller needle and do regular ribbing.