How to Knit English Rib
Ribbing adds texture and elasticity to a knit garment, and unlike plain stockinette, ribbing will not curl. English ribbing imitates the look of one-by-one ribbing, but uses no purling to create raised stitches. English rib is similar to brioche stitch, as they both involve knitting into the row below your live stitches, the ones that are currently on the needles when you are knitting. This makes the stitches longer and allows them to sit above the stitches on either side. English rib is lofty but sturdy, and a good ribbing style for added warmth.
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Instructions
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1
Cast on an even number of stitches. Knit one row.
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Knit one stitch, then knit the stitch below your live stitch and the live stitch together. The working yarn should go through the stitch on the row below, but the live stitch should come to rest under the new stitch next to the one of the row below, just as if you'd worked a decrease.
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3
Alternate a normal stitch with knitting stitches with the stitches below them until you are two stitches away from the end of the row. Knit those stitches as normal. The English rib row is complete.
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4
Repeat the English rib row until the ribbed section is complete.
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Tips & Warnings
English rib relies on a stitch that drops slightly, but the stitch should not drop out of the knitting completely. Unravel to one stitch before a dropped stitch, and put the dropped stitch back on the left-hand needle with a crochet hook.
English rib can also begin with a row of purling.
Use a yarn with some elasticity. All-cotton or all-linen yarns may resist efforts to create longer stitches.
References
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