Knit-2, purl-2 (K2, P2) ribbing is a great stretchy stitch pattern that is perfect for projects like baby hats and socks. This ribbing is very elastic, when stretched the fabric naturally wants to snapback into place. In this video, Jen Lucas demonstrates how to work this ribbed pattern. This stitch pattern is also known as 2×2 ribbing, as you are knitting two stitches and then purling two stitches. It can be worked over a multiple of 4 stitches, or it can be worked over a multiple of 4+2 stitches, as demonstrated in the video, when working back and forth in rows.
K2, P2 RIBBING
Worked over a multiple of 4+2 stitches.
– Row 1 (RS): K2, p2; rep from * to last 2 sts, k2.
– Row 2 (WS): P2, k2; rep from * to last 2 sts, p2.
Rep rows 1 and 2 for pattern.
ABBREVIATIONS
k: knit
p: purl
rep: repeat
RS: Right Side
WS: Wrong Side
Working over a multiple of 4 plus 2 stitches allows the ribbing to be centered on your fabric, which is a nice detail when working flat. In order to keep track of the Right Side and Wrong Side of the work, Jen recommends using a locking stitch marker to mark the Right Side of the fabric.