Rib bands alternating with single-jersey bands (accordion)

Machine types that can knit it

• Single bed (punch card) + ribber
• Single bed (electronic) + ribber
• Double bed with pushers (Passap type)
• Double-bed hand flat (V-bed)

Steps

1. Cast on multiple of 2N, establish rib, knit Rr.
2. Back-bed stitches → front; change to colour C; knit J.
3. Transfer into inverted rib; colour A/B; knit Rr.
4. Front stitches → back; colour C; knit J.
5. Repeat.

The full card

What it looks like

Horizontal concertina: wide rib bands (columns visible) separated by narrow smooth stripes, the stripes alternating which face they show; fabric stacks into crisp horizontal pleats, often with a contrast colour in the jersey stripes; side view = zigzag folds. Vertical variant: a few needle columns stay permanently on one bed, so the fold runs vertically and the fabric gathers/fans.

How it behaves

fold/pleat, strong, self-forming; horizontal (bands) or vertical (columns).

How it works

Rib N×N for Rr rows → all stitches to front bed, J rows jersey → rib inverted (front and back groups exchanged) Rr rows → all stitches to back bed, J rows jersey → repeat. Jersey on alternating faces acts like the horizontal rib, rib band contraction sharpens the fold. Vertical variant: designate fixed columns that always knit on one bed while the rest swaps.

Machines

Double bed; colour change for jersey bands needs a free feeder or yarn swap; plating feeder optional.

Parameters

N (6–16), Rr (20–30), J (4–8), colours (A main, B plating, C jersey), orientation H/V, fixed column width (vertical).

Steps

1) Cast on multiple of 2N, establish rib, knit Rr. 2) Back-bed stitches → front; change to colour C; knit J. 3) Transfer into inverted rib; colour A/B; knit Rr. 4) Front stitches → back; colour C; knit J. 5) Repeat.

Charting

Grid 1 cell = 2 st × 2 rows: vertical grey/white bands; full-width grey stripe; inverted bands; full-width white stripe. Vertical variant: rotate logic — narrow full-height grey or white columns between swapping blocks.

Limits and common problems

Too few rib rows → weak fold; too many jersey rows → loses the crisp pleat (rolls instead).

Combines with

lace-in-jersey, cable-in-jersey, plating, horizontal-rib.

Pieces and assembly

Pleated panels; fold lines can be aligned across pieces before seaming; strongly suited to bellows/folded objects.

Related techniques

• Rib with single-jersey panels / broken rib relief
• Vertical rib (N×M)
• Pitch / half-pitch rib arrangement
• Horizontal rib by whole-width bed swap
• Knitting the first row after a transfer
• Travelling rib by edge-stitch transfer