Spine Rib

Hello, everyone, and welcome to my blog.

I own over a dozen stitch dictionaries. Even with hundreds of stitch patterns at my fingertips, sometimes I need (read want) to make up some of my own! I call this one "Spine Rib" because it has a distinct raised line down the center of each rib.

I have to admit that, at first, I wasn't thrilled with what I considered to be the right side. On the other hand, the wrong side was brilliant!

After I blocked it, though, the right side really came into its own. And the wrong side remained brilliant!

Instructions for Spine Rib

Very loosely cast on a multiple of 5 sts plus 2.

Preparation row (RS): P2. (K3, p2) for remainder of row.

Row 1: K2. (P3, k2) for remainder of row.

Row 2: P2. *K1. Insert the LN from front to back into the stitch 2 rows below the last one worked. Insert the RN as well and knit up a st. Slip the new stitch to the left needle, then slip 2 together k-wise. (This will be the new stitch with the one immediately to the left of it.) Insert the RN from front to back into the st below the next st on the LN and knit up a stitch. Pass the 2 slipped stitches over the new stitch. K1, p2.* Repeat from * to * across row.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 for the pattern. Bind off very loosely in pattern. If binding off loosely is a problem for you, you might be interested in trying Jeny's surprisingly stretchy bind off.

Unblocked, the wrong side would make lovely cuffs or the main part of a cap or socks. When blocked, the fabric would make a beautiful scarf or stole; I'm going to work on designing decorative side selvedges for it.

Until next time!