Vertical rib (N×M)

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 all needles both beds (circular rows).
2. Transfer stitches into the N×M arrangement (or cast on directly in rib).
3. Set pitch (see rib-needle-setup).
4. Knit required rows, plating if desired.

The full card

What it looks like

Parallel vertical stripes of raised knit columns alternating with recessed purl columns. 1×1/2×2: fine corduroy-like lines, dense, clingy. 4×4–6×6: clear flat-topped columns with shadowed valleys; plated colours show as stripes. 12×12–20×20: wide flat panels separated by deep folded valleys, reads as vertical pleats/box pleats more than "rib". Edges of piece pull in (waisted look).

How it behaves

vertical relief / pleat; strength grows with group width; contracts horizontally ~50% relaxed; springs back.

How it works

After cast-on, needles are arranged so groups of working needles on one bed face non-working needles on the other; every row knits both beds, so each column stays knit or purl for its whole height.

Machines

Any double-bed setup (domestic + ribber, V-bed hand flat such as Dubied, industrial). Ribber must be correctly spaced/aligned (test by running the carriage empty across selected needles on both beds; it must glide). Single-bed-only (e.g. KH-821 without ribber): imitate by latch-tool reforming columns into purl (slow) or a garter carriage; or knit vertical "mock rib" not covered here. Use cast-on comb + weights.

Parameters

N = needles in work per group (1–20+); M = needles out of work between groups (usually = N); pitch: P (pitch) or H (half pitch); stitch size (domestic double-bed size differs from single-bed size because the wider bed gap uses more yarn); rows = any.

Steps

1) Cast on all needles both beds (circular rows). 2) Transfer stitches into the N×M arrangement (or cast on directly in rib). 3) Set pitch (see rib-needle-setup). 4) Knit required rows, plating if desired.

Charting

Grid: alternating vertical bands of grey (front) and white (back) cells, N and M cells wide, constant through all rows. Needle notation: one two-row diagram (upper = back bed, lower = front bed): N bars + M dots on one row, mirror on the other.

Limits and common problems

Poor ribber alignment → carriage snags. Domestic double jersey comes out looser/more hand-knit looking than V-bed. Very wide ribs lose elasticity function; they become decorative.

Combines with

travelling-rib-*, rib-jersey-relief, rib-twist-cable-2x2, rib-lace-2x2, rib-moss-detail, horizontal-rib (blocks).

Pieces and assembly

Cuffs, hems, necklines (1×1, 2×2; a folded double layer "sandwich" trim for necks), main panels for wide ribs. Seam rib edges with mattress stitch matching knit column to knit column.

Related techniques

• 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
• Travelling rib by shifting all stitches
• Mirrored / zoned travelling ribs