How to Knit a Wheat Ear Rib

Wheat ear ribbing is decorative knitting that will dress up a plain pattern.

The wheat ear rib stitch is a decorative knitting stitch pattern consisting of wheat ear-shaped ribbing amid a reverse stockinette stitch background. Because wheat ear ribbing is made with reverse stockinette stitches on either side of the ribbing, this type of stitch will curl along the edges. Therefore, it is best used within a garment that has seams or with a border of garter stitch or another stitch that will prevent the edges from curling.

Things You'll Need

• Yarn
• Knitting needles

Instructions

1. Make the desired number of cast-on stitches in multiples of 5 plus 2. Possibilities include 7, 12, 17, 22, 27 and so on.

2. Knit row 1 in the following manner: make three purl stitches, slide the right needle between the next two stitches from the back of the work to the front of the work, knit the second stitch, knit the first stitch and slide both of the stitches off of the needle at the same time. Repeat this pattern to the last two stitches in the row. Purl the last two stitches. (References 1 and 2)

3. Complete Row 2 in the following manner: make three knit stitches, skip one stitch, purl the next stitch, purl the skipped stitch and slip both of the purl stitches off the needle at the same time. Continue in this manner until two stitches remain in the row. Knit the last two stitches. (References 1 and 2)

4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 until the desired length is achieved. (References 1 and 2)

Tips & Warnings

• Create cast-on stitches by tying a slip knot and placing it on the left needle. Slide the right needle's tip through the slip knot from front to back, wrap the yarn around the tip of the right needle from back to front and draw the right needle through the slip knot. A new stitch is created on the right needle, which should be slipped onto the left needle. Continue in this manner, knitting into each newly created stitch to make subsequent stitches until all cast-on stitches are made.

• Make purl stitches by sliding the right needle through the designated stitch on the left needle from the back of the stitch to the front of the stitch. Wrap the yarn around the right needle's tip and pull it through the stitch. Drop the stitch off the left needle and keep the new stitch on the right needle.

• Make knit stitches by acting as if to cast on, but instead of keeping the stitch on the left needle, drop the stitch off of the left needle and leave the new stitch on the right needle.

References

• Knitting Fool: Wheat Ear Rib
• Berroco: Rosebud
• Lion Brand Yarn: Cast On
• Lion Brand Yarn: Purl
• Lion Brand Yarn: Knit

Resources

• Lion Brand Yarn: Learn to Knit
• Knitting Pattern Central