Rewards
The mock rib stitch gives you the look of 1x1 ribbing with half the work. You knit one row of K1 P1, then purl the whole next row. The result has visible vertical lines like rib but less pull-in, so it lies flatter and uses less yarn.
It's a beginner stitch and a good one to learn right after stockinette, because it introduces the knit-purl switch without asking you to track it on every row. It suits scarves, blanket panels, dishcloths and sweater bodies where you want texture without the snugness of rib.
The one thing that makes it work: the purl row. Purling every stitch on the wrong side means the knit stitches from the K1 P1 row line up into columns, while the purl stitches blend into the background. That's what makes it read as rib.
Watch: Mock Rib Stitch Video Tutorial
Watch the yarn move between front and back on Row 1, and then notice how much faster Row 2 goes when it's all purls.
What You Need
The swatch uses worsted (medium) weight yarn on 5.0mm (US 8) needles. Any weight works, but a medium weight makes the columns easy to see. A smooth, light-colored yarn shows the rib lines best while you're learning; a dark yarn hides the difference between the knit and purl columns.
Abbreviations used: CO (cast on), K (knit), P (purl). The pattern is worked over an even number of stitches; the swatch casts on 22.
Mock Rib Stitch Written Pattern
Size: 6"x6"
Gauge: 4x4 = 16sts x 20 rows in stockinette
Yarn: 22g of DGY worsted weight recycled silk
Knitting Needle Size: 5.0mm
Abbreviations: K: Knit; P: Purl
CO 22
Row 1: *K1, P1. Repeat from * across.
Row 2: Purl across.
Rows 3-32: Repeat rows 1-2.
Step-by-Step: How the Stitch Works
- Cast on 22 stitches. Row 1 is the right side. Knit one, bring the yarn to the front between the needles, purl one, take the yarn to the back, knit one. Repeat to the end.
- Turn the work. Row 2 is the wrong side: purl every stitch with the yarn held in front the whole time. No switching.
- Turn and work Row 1 again, starting with a knit. The knits of this row land directly above the knits of the first Row 1, because the purl row in between didn't shift anything.
- Keep alternating. On the right side, the knit columns stand up as smooth Vs and the purl stitches recede. On the wrong side you'll see a bumpy, garter-like texture.
- Work to 32 rows, or until the piece measures the length you want, and bind off in pattern on a Row 1.
Tips and Common Mistakes
- On Row 1, move the yarn between the needles, not over them. Taking the yarn over the needle makes an accidental yarn over and adds a stitch.
- Always start Row 1 with a knit. If you start with a purl, the columns shift by one and the rib lines break.
- The right side is the Row 1 side with the clean vertical lines. The purl side looks like uneven garter, so mark the right side early.
- Mock rib curls a little at the edges, less than stockinette but more than true rib. A garter or seed stitch border fixes it on a scarf.
- It's less stretchy than real rib, so don't use it where you need a cuff to grip. Use it where you want the look without the pull.
What to Make With the Mock Rib Stitch
A scarf is the natural first project. In worsted weight on 5mm needles, 30 stitches gives a scarf about 7 inches wide with a soft drape; our how to knit a scarf guide covers length and borders.
It also works for a blanket in bulky yarn (add a garter border), a sweater body in sport or DK where true rib would be too clingy, cotton dishcloths in worsted, and a simple cowl in bulky weight seamed into a loop.
Related Stitches
- Knit 1x1 Rib Stitch — the true rib this one imitates
- Knit Stockinette Stitch — the stitch to learn right before this one
- Knit Seed Stitch — the next knit-purl texture to try
- Browse every knit stitch tutorial
Yarn for This Stitch
The swatch uses a worsted weight; a smooth worsted weight yarn shows the rib lines clearly and makes a scarf in an evening or two. For a lighter sweater or a dressier scarf, Darn Good Twist Sport Weight Silk Yarn gives the columns a soft sheen, and the recycled silk is hand-dyed by artisans in India.
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.
Mock Rib Stitch FAQ
What's the difference between mock rib and real rib?
Real 1x1 rib is K1 P1 on every row, so both sides match and the fabric pulls in. Mock rib purls every other row, which gives the same vertical lines with less stretch and a different wrong side.
Is the mock rib stitch reversible?
No. The right side shows rib-like columns; the wrong side looks like a loose garter texture. It's tidy, but not the same.
Does the mock rib stitch curl?
Slightly at the edges. A border of three or four garter stitches on each side keeps a scarf flat.
