Belcarra Ribbing

The final stages of the Belcarra Cardigan: crocheting ribbing around the edges and on the cuffs.

I have lots of photos to share and a pattern idea for learning how to make crochet ribbing.


The ribbing of this cardigan is created by rows of double crochet (US sc) stitches worked into back loops.

Working into the back loops gives a stretchy fabric.  To find out for yourself, try making a headband using double crochet in the back loop only (dc blo).

A Basic Ribbed Headband

Headbands are a great way to practise ribbing.
Beaded Headband, March 2007

The number of stitches in your foundation row will determine the width of the headband.

Keep adding rows until the headband is the length you need to fit around the wearer's head comfortably.

Stitch the two short ends together. You can crochet slip stitches through both end rows before fastening off; or fasten off first and use the loose end to join the end rows with regular sewing stitches.

Double crochet stitches will produce narrow ribbing.  
Try using longer stitches.

The headband pictured above was made using half treble crochet stitches, working into back loops only (htr blo).

Beads were added at random along alternate rows in the central section. The beaded section was approximately two-thirds of the total headband length. See Pattern Details below for more information.

I am loathe to block ribbing because I fear it will remove the stretch.  Have you had any experience with this? I really should make some ribbed swatches and do some experiments but haven't had a chance at the time of writing.  I just want to get the cardigan done!

Cardigan Ribbing


I began the ribbing at the centre of the back bottom edge, working my way out from the edge and then turning to come back to the cardigan edge; 
in and out, building each row by working into the back loops of the preceding row.






In this photograph, the bottom edge of the cardigan is not quite straight. My tension was a bit loose and uneven which has caused a slight ruffle effect. I hope that the ribbing will disguise this.





I also noticed that the outside edge of my ribbed rows were beginning to curl.


Again, I have faith that the curl will be brought into line when I get right around the cardigan and join up the last row with the first one.



Another view of the curl.

In case you are wondering, I have not made any colour adjustments or applied any flash photography or special effects to these pictures.

The yarn appears to be glowing in some of these photos and I think it is the way the nylon has taken up the dye which is a very rich purple, and it has created a saturated colour effect by itself.  I have not been able to create an accurate colour representation on any of the photos so far.

Working across the bottom edge from the centre back towards the right front.

The side seam between front and back sections is visible.

When I am crocheting, I look at it from this angle!

Approaching the corner: what do I do when I get there?

Usually when making a border to go around corners, a few extra stitches need to be added to prevent the border from being too tight and pulling and puckering the fabric at the corner.

I wasn't sure what to do.  I consulted my "Around the Corner Crochet Borders" book by Edie Eckman.

In border patterns that are joined at the end of rows, like this ribbing, a few extra rows were added at the corner.  Should I close up the spacing between rib rows when I join them to the cardigan?

Danger!  Overthinking!  The pattern gives no special instructions for ribbing around the corners. Nevertheless I tried to reduce the spacing between rib rows only to realise that it didn't matter. 

There was so much stretch and flexibility in each row,  I could continue joining each row around the corner just as I had been joining them across the back with no need to change the spacing between joins.


Where the ribbing is close to the fabric (its 'inside' row edge), it is at its regular 'resting' tension. 

Towards the outside edge, the stretchy ribbing fanned out to compensate for turning the corner–no puckering. 

If anything, the tension created by the stretch helps the cardigan to hug the body of the wearer–cosy!

It is beginning to look like a proper cardigan now with ribbing from the centre back, around the first outside corner and along the right front panel.

Next challenge: the inside corner around the neckline!

Post Scriptum: This must be the month to tackle ribbing! While this post was being prepared, Elisabeth Andrée (Andrée to friends and family) of About Crochet blog posted about "How to Crochet a Stretchy Ribbing Fabric". Although Andrée uses US crochet terms, she is based in the Netherlands.  Her blog has a number of clear photo examples of ribbing for you.

Andrée is featured in Kathryn Vercillo's book, Crochet Saved My Life which explores the mental and physical benefits of crochet.   Learn more about Andrée and the other contributors on Kathryn's web site Crochet Concupiscence.

Abbreviations

blo - work into back loops only

dc - Australian/UK double crochet (US single crochet) stitch

htr - half treble crochet (US half double) stitch

sc - US single crochet (Aust/UK double crochet) stitch

tr - Australian/UK treble crochet (US double crochet) stitch

Pattern Details

Beaded Headband
Pattern: "Crochet Headbands" article, Get Creative magazine, January 2007 issue, page 16, www.getcreative.com.au, Spotlight Australia
Yarn: 4 ply craft cotton
Hook: 3.5 mm hook
Notions: 40 beads
Notes:
16 chain foundation = 15 ch wide + 1 turning chain = 5 cm / 2 inches
No beads for 15 rows. Bead alternate rows for 34 rows then no beads for last 15 rows.
Total rows = 64 row = 40.5 cm / 16 inches.

Belcarra Cardigan
Belcarra Cardigan, designed by Robyn Chachula, Interweave Crochet, magazine, Winter 2010:

• Interweave Store: http://www.interweavestore.com/belcarra-cardigan?utm_source=ls&utm_medium=affiliate&cid=05t1rdpCdm4&siteID=05t1rdpCdm4-D3I5nwqeVwa6n_w5wKwdvQ
• Ravelry project page:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/belcarra-cardigan

References

About Crochet, blog by Elisabeth Andrée: http://elisabethandree.wordpress.com/

Crochet Concupiscence blog by Kathryn Vercillo: http://www.crochetconcupiscence.com/

Eckman, Edie, Around the Corner Crochet Borders, 150 colorful, creative crocheted edgings with charts & instructions for turning the corner perfectly every time, ISBN 978-1-60342-538-4, Storey Publishing, www.storey.com, 210 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247, USA, 2010.

Elisabeth Andrée, "About Me", web page, About Crochet blog: http://elisabethandree.wordpress.com/about/

Elisabeth Andrée, "How to Crochet a Stretchy Ribbing Fabric",blog entry, About Crochet, 24 October 2014: http://elisabethandree.wordpress.com/2014/10/24/how-to-crochet-a-stretchy-ribbing-fabric/

Vercillo, Kathryn, Crochet Saved My Life, ISBN/EAN13: 1478190450 / 9781478190455, self-published, 1 July 2012: www.crochetsavedmylife.com

Vercillo, Kathryn, "Meet the Amazing Women who Hook to Heal", blog post, Crochet Concupiscence, 17 July 2012: http://www.crochetconcupiscence.com/2012/07/meet-the-amazing-women-who-hook-to-heal/

Related Posts on Lupey Loops

"Blocking Belcarra Cardigan", 16 October 2014: http://lupeyloops.blogspot.com.au/2014/10/blocking-belcarra-cardigan.html

"Belcarra Cardigan: Neck & Neck", 8 October 2014:  http://lupeyloops.blogspot.com.au/2014/10/belcarra-cardigan-neck-neck.html

"Belcarra Beginnings", 21 August 2014: http://lupeyloops.blogspot.com.au/2014/08/belcarra-beginnings.html