How to Crochet Off a Ribbed Knit
Crochet makes a sleek accent trim on knitted pieces. However, crocheting off a knitted ribbing can be tricky. If the crochet is too bulky, the ribbing will flare out instead of lying flat. If the crochet is too tight, the ribbing will not stretch properly. The best kinds of crochet stitches to use with knitted ribbing are lacy stitches because they have enough give to allow the ribbing to stretch as designed.
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Things You'll Need
- Yarn to match knitted ribbing
- Crochet hook in a size to match yarn
- Scissors
Instructions
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Join the yarn with a slip stitch to the end of the ribbing instead of working the number of chains required in the pattern to make a foundation row. Join in an unobtrusive spot such as the back of the neck, at the side seam or the inside of the wrist on a cuff.
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Chain the number of stitches required to start the first row of your chosen crochet pattern. For example, chain one if the pattern starts with a single crochet or chain three if the pattern starts with a double crochet stitch.
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Work the crochet pattern as if the edges of the ribbing were a foundation row of chains and count each row of ribbing as one stitch. For example, if the pattern says to skip five chains, skip five stitches on the knitted ribbing. Join the yarn with a slip stitch in the top of the starting chain when you have completed the first round.
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Work the crochet pattern until the crocheted lace is the desired length. Fasten off the yarn and hide the end.
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Tips & Warnings
Use a yarn that is the same type and weight as the yarn used for the knitted ribbing. You don’t want the crochet to behave differently than the knitted piece when it is washed.
Use a crochet hook that will slip through the ribbing without overly stretching the knitted stitches.
Choose an openwork or lace crochet stitch pattern from a crochet stitch encyclopedia. Count the number of rows in the ribbing and match the crochet stitch repeat to the number of rows. For example, if there are 32 rows for ribbing, choose a crochet stitch pattern that is a multiple of four or eight stitches.
References
Resources
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