Ribbing Tutorial
The LK 150 does not have a ribbing attachment available, so all ribs must be made manually, either by handknitting them on 2 needles, or by dropping and relatching plain knitting stitches, thereby changing them into rib stitches. In this tutorial we will focus on relatched stitches only.
Ribbing Worked Last
Use this method when ribbing is worked at the end of a garment piece, such as sleeves that have been knit from the top down. The same method may be used to work bottom bands; in this case, begin the garment section above the ribbing, casting on with waste yarn and ravel cord. After completing the piece, rehang upside down, picking up the main color loops from the ravel cord onto the required number of needles. For tighter ribbing, it is easy to decrease a few stitches, hanging two main color loops onto one needle for each desired decrease. If you have doubled any stitches, knit 1 row at main tension.
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Step 1: For a practice piece, proceed as follows. Turn tension (Stitch Dial) at least two numbers tighter than tension used on main fabric. Depending on the yarn used, it will often be necessary to go all the way down to "R" in order to get a firm ribbing. Knit 5 rows. Increase tension 5 numbers. Knit 1 row at loose tension. Drop third stitch from the right edge, and ravel it down 6 rows. Many people find it easier to count down 7 rows, and insert the latch tool through this stitch, then ravel down to the latch tool; by doing it this way, it is possible to pull down with the latch tool, helping the column of stitch run down. Be very careful that the tool is actually inserted in the same column as the dropped stitch!
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Step 2: Catch the first bar of yarn (the first "rung" in the ladder) with the latch tool. Pull it back towards you, through the stitch which is already on the latch tool, forming a new stitch.
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Step 3: Repeat step 2 until all bars have been relatched, then rehang the stitch onto the empty needle. A vertical column of knit stitches on the purl background has just been formed. Repeat this process on every other stitch across for K1, P1 ribbing. Clip yarn, leaving a long tail for seaming. Beginning on the side opposite yarn tail, take first stitch off with the latch tool and slide it down behind the latch. Take the second stitch off into the hook of the latch tool, then pull through the first stitch. Continue on across the bed in the same way, pulling the 3rd stitch through the second, the 4th through the 3rd, etc. At the end, pull the yarn tail through the last stitch to fasten off.
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Go to Ribbing, Knit From Bottom Up
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Irene Woods
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(928) 684-2969
© 1997-2002 by Irene Woods
Email: irenewoods@clearwater.net
