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How to Make the Farrow Knit Rib Stitch for Beginners

Farrow Knit Rib Stitch by Janice 

The Farrow Knit Rib Stitch is an easy rib pattern with only knits and purls. Its easy two-row repeat design makes it ideal for the beginner knitter. But if you are tired of making garter stitch scarves or washcloths, this is a perfect way to advance your knitting skills and create something with an interesting texture.

It's a reversible pattern, which makes it an ideal choice for scarves, blankets, cowls, and any project where both the right and wrong sides will show. You would not be alone if you think this stitch resembles the broken rib stitch pattern. Though similar, it is an entirely different stitch.

So, if you know how to make a purl stitch and knit stitches, you can create this interesting rib. Incidentally, this fabric creates a nice horizontal stretch so it is also appropriate where a rib stitch might be needed, such as hat brims, or sleeve cuffs.

Skill Level

Abbreviations

K - Knit

P - Purl

CO - Cast on

BO - Bind off

* * - Repeat the directions between the asterisks for the specified number of times

RS - right side

st - stitch

Skills Needed

Knit Stitch

Purl Stitch

Cast On

Bind Off

Weave in Ends

Place a Stitch Marker

Notes about the Farrow Rib Stitch

1. All instructions are in US terms
2. Two-row repeat
3. Three stitch repeat
4. Lies flat (you may decide to block for a more finished appearance)
5. Stretches horizontally
6. Worked on a multiple of 3 + 1, meaning you will cast on some stitch multiples of 3 and then add one to the end.  
7. Place a stitch marker through one stitch on the right side to keep track of the right and wrong sides.
8. Reversible
9. If you prefer to add a border to your knit swatch, you can increase the cast on edge by four stitches, two for each side.  Knit those four stitches.  You can also add a couple of rows of garter stitch to the beginning and end of the swatch to make a nice border.

Reversible Knit Pattern

Supplies Needed for this Tutorial

• Yarn (I am using a worsted weight (#4 weight) yarn, 100% acrylic)
• Knitting needle (choose a needle size that corresponds to the type of yarn you are using. I am working on US 7 (4.5 mm) needles.
• Scissors
• Yarn needle for weaving in ends
• Stitch marker (optional)

Directions for Working on Straight Needles

CO 25 stitches using the long tail cast-on method.

Row 1 (RS): *K2, P1, repeat from * to last st. K1.

Row 2: P1, *K2, P1* to end of row.

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until you reach your desired length. Bind off, weave in ends.

Learn How to Read Knitting Charts

This is an easy pattern to follow using written directions, however, it is never too early to learn how to follow a knitted chart. This is what the farrow rib stitch looks like in chart form.

Learn how to read knitting charts.

Ready to put this stitch pattern to work?

I found a straightforward, beginner-friendly pattern that uses the farrow rib stitch pattern.  Click on the photo to go to the pattern.

Free Download

Would you like a free downloadable PDF of this stitch tutorial?

Click here to Download the Farrow Knit Rib Stitch Tutorial

Please Rate This Tutorial

Hi, there, I'm Janice, the voice behind this website and avid knitter and crochet enthusiast. I want to share my passion with you and help you learn how to knit or crochet, smarter.

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