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The cartridge belt rib stitch is a thick, reversible rib made with knit stitches and slipped stitches only. The slipped stitches pull into raised vertical columns, and the knits between them turn into garter ridges, so the fabric looks like rows of loops on a belt.
It's a beginner stitch. There's no purling at all. The thing that makes it work is slipping with the yarn in front: the yarn strands across the slipped stitch on the side facing you, and because both rows slip wyif, the strands appear on both sides. That's what makes it reversible.
The fabric is dense and squishy with a little horizontal stretch. It doesn't curl and it holds its shape, which makes it a good choice for warm accessories.
Watch: Cartridge Belt Rib Stitch Video Tutorial
Watch where the yarn sits when a stitch is slipped, and how Row 2 shifts the slipped columns so they stack on top of the ones from Row 1.
What You Need
Yarn: medium (worsted) weight, as in the swatch. A smooth, light-colored yarn shows the slipped columns and the garter ridges clearly, which helps you see where the next slip goes.
Needles: US 9 (5.5 mm), or the size that gives you the listed gauge.
Abbreviations (US terms): CO = cast on; K = knit; sl 1 wyif = slip one stitch purlwise with the yarn held in front of the work.
Stitch multiple: multiple of 4 + 3. The swatch uses 31.
Cartridge Belt Rib Stitch Written Pattern
Size: 6"x6"
Gauge: Stockinette | 4" = 20 Stitches | 12 Rows
Yarn: Medium Weight Yarn
Knitting Needle Size: US 9 (or size to achieve gauge)
Stitches worked over a multiple of 4 + 3
Abbreviations: CO - Cast on; Sl 1 wyif – Slip 1 stitch with the yarn in the front of your work
Pattern:
CO 31 stitches.
Row 1: Knit 3 *sl 1 wyif, knit 3* repeat from *
Row 2: Knit 1 *sl 1 wyif, knit 3* repeat from * to last 2 stitches, sl 1 wyif, knit 1
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until piece measures 6" from cast on edge.
Fasten off, weave in ends & block to 6"x6" square.
Step-by-Step: How the Stitch Works
- Cast on 31 stitches. That's seven repeats of 4 plus 3 edge stitches, so the pattern is balanced with knit 3 at both ends of Row 1.
- Row 1: knit 3, then slip 1 wyif, knit 3 across. To slip wyif, bring the yarn to the front between the needles, move the stitch to the right needle as if to purl without working it, then take the yarn to the back and knit the next 3.
- Row 2: knit 1, then slip 1 wyif, knit 3, ending sl 1 wyif, knit 1. The slipped stitches now sit two stitches over from Row 1's, so the columns alternate and interlock.
- Keep alternating. Each slipped stitch is stretched over two rows, which pulls it tight and raises it. The knit stitches on either side form garter ridges between the columns.
Tips and Common Mistakes
- Slip purlwise, not knitwise. Slipping knitwise twists the stitch and the column looks ropey. Insert the right needle as if to purl and just move the stitch over.
- Yarn in front means the side facing you. If you slip with the yarn in back, the float lands on the other side and the column disappears.
- Don't pull the floats tight. A tight float puckers the fabric and makes the swatch narrower than 6 inches. Keep the yarn relaxed when you bring it back to knit.
- Both sides are the right side. The slipped columns appear on both faces, so scarves and blankets need no wrong side.
- It uses more yarn than garter. The slipped stitches compress the rows, so plan for extra.
What to Make With the Cartridge Belt Rib Stitch
- A chunky scarf in bulky or super bulky yarn. The reversible texture and flat edges mean no border is needed. How to knit a scarf covers width and length.
- A hat in worsted weight, worked flat and seamed, with the columns running vertically.
- A dense blanket in worsted or bulky yarn, where the thickness is a feature.
- Headbands and ear warmers in DK or worsted, since the fabric is firm enough to hold its shape.
Related Stitches
- Knit Garter Stitch — the all-knit fabric that forms the ridges here
- Slip Stitch Ribbing — another rib built on slipped stitches, with purls added
- Knit Rib Stitch — the standard knit-purl rib for comparison
- Browse every knit stitch tutorial
Yarn for This Stitch
This stitch wants body rather than drape, so a worsted weight yarn matches the swatch, and a bulky weight yarn makes a thick scarf fast. Our recycled silk yarns, hand-dyed by artisans in India, come in every weight from lace to super bulky; browse the full yarn collection by weight.
If you'd like a new skein to practice on every month, Yarn of the Month sends three hand-dyed skeins with a knit and crochet pattern written for them, $29 a month plus shipping.
Cartridge Belt Rib Stitch FAQ
Is cartridge belt rib reversible?
Yes. Both rows slip with the yarn in front, so the floats and raised columns show on both sides.
Does it curl?
No. It's built on garter stitch, which lies flat, and the slipped columns add stability rather than curl.
Is it beginner-friendly?
Yes. If you can knit and move the yarn to the front, you can work it. There's no purling, and the two-row repeat is easy to memorize.
