How to Knit Garter Rib Stitch [Free Video Tutorial & Written Pattern!]

If you have followed me for a while, then Garter Rib Stitch will not be entirely unfamiliar to you. I’ve actually used a variation of this stitch pattern before in one of my favourite blankets – Stanley. It really shows that the simplest of stitch patterns can be scaled up to create really beautiful larger projects.

Not only is it easy (which makes it great for beginners!), It’s also a really versatile pattern. In these instructions I’ve used the classic 2 x 2 combination, but once you get to grips with it you could adjust it to work in lots of different widths – incorporating either wider stripes of stockinette, garter stitch, or both.

Garter Rib Stitch is not a reversible stitch, it does have a defined right and wrong side (see picture below). That being said, the reverse of the blanket does have a really lovely texture all of its own. So when working something like a blanket, your work will look just as good on the reverse side – just in a different way.

pin for later

written pattern

stitches used:

• K – Knit
• P – Purl
• RS – Right Side
• WS – Wrong Side

Repeat rows:

Cast on: Cast on a multiple of 4+2. (I like to use the Long Tail Cast On)

Row 1 (WS): k2, *p2, k2* repeat from *to* until end of row.

Row 2 (RS): k all stitches.

Repeat rows 1 & 2 until project is the size you want it to be. Cast off knit-wise on a Row 2 repeat.

Tips for adding selvedge stitches

A lot of the versions of this pattern I see has the stockinette rib on the outer edges of the design. Personally, I don’t like this if I’m not incorporating a border, as the design then has a tendency to curl at the edges.

Rather than give you instructions on how to add selvedge stitches, I’ve tweaked the pattern so the garter section of the ribbing is at the outer edges of the design. Effectively what this does is give you a 2 stitch selvedge automatically.

If you prefer to have the stockinette section on the outer edges, then instead of working my Row 2 above, you would work the following: p2, *k2, p2* repeat from *to* until the end of the row.

My sample above has the 2 stitch selvedge, so you can see the effect it gives.

video tutorial