There are people and cultures all over the world that not only abide by mistakes in their handcrafts, they cherish them. We love that the Mistake Rib embraces this philosophy. By the simple “mistake” of casting on one stitch too few, a basic 2 x 2 rib takes on depth and complexity beyond our expectations.
To catch the magic of this stitch, we used Purl Soho’s new Mulberry Merino. A blend of mulberry silk and extra fine merino, this latest addition to the Purl Soho yarn collection is especially beautiful with its rich color and gentle luster. And in mistake rib, Mulberry Merino is classic and elegant, dense and cozy.
All this talk brings to mind the old adage, “If you don’t make a mistake, you don’t make anything!” Isn’t that a nice reminder? Cast on, give it a try and remember that some mistakes are meant to be!
Update: New Yarn!
OCTOBER 2016
If your relationship with handcrafting is all about embracing imperfections, then the Mistake Rib may call your name. It certainly calls ours! We revisited this wonderfully textured scarf, this time with our Cashmere Merino Bloom! See the full range of colors and the additional photos here!
Materials
- 4 skeins of Purl Soho’s Mulberry Merino, 80% extra fine merino and 20% mulberry silk. We used the color Black Green.
- A US 6 circular or straight needles
Gauge
38 stitches = approximately 4 inches, in pattern, unstretched
Size
Finished measurements: 7 inches x 70 inches (Note: Each skein yields approximately 20 inches of scarf, so for a 60-inch scarf, you’d only need 3 skeins.)
Note
Mistake Rib is worked over a multiple of 4 + 3 stitches.
Pattern
Cast on 67 stitches.
Row 1: Slip 1 knitwise, k1, p2, *k2, p2, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, k2, p1.
Repeat Row 1 until piece measures 70 inches from cast one edge, or until desired length.
Bind off in stitch pattern.
Weave in the ends and enjoy!
PRINT
Hi! I am wanting to start this project and noticed it said we needed 4 skeins of this. So we essentially need 1000 yards of fabric? That seems like a lot for this scarf. Am I calculating wrong? Thanks!
Hi Karley,
Thanks for writing us again. This is actually a typical yardage for a yarn this weight. With thinner weights you need even more yardage.
Best,
Adam
Thank you so much!! I am new to all of this 🙂
Hi Karely,
Great question! Scarves are deceptive! They seem small but they are, in fact, quite large and eat up a bunch of yarn. This scarf is 7 inches wide and 70 inches (almost 2 yards!). You will need somewhere are 3.5 skeins of the Mulberry Merino. Each skein works up into approximately 20 inches, so for a 60-inch scarf, you’d only need 3 skeins. Overall, with my back of the napkin math, the 70″ scarf will require 865 yards of Mulberry Merino. Your yardage may vary as differences in personal gauge can mean that you use more or less. I always like to give myself a 10% bumper to be sure that I have enough!
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
This helped a ton thank you!
How would I make this with Woolfolk?
Thx!
Hi Karley,
Thanks for writing us! This scarf takes approximately 988 yards of the Mulberry Merino. Hope this helps!
Happy knitting!
-Adam
Does this mean that the gauge is 4? Sorry still learning! I just noticed on this yarn the suggested gauge was 5 to 6 but from what I’m reading on the pattern it’s 4?
Hi Karely,
Great question! The gauge for this project is 24 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette. This equals 6 stitched per inch. The gauge in pattern is 38 stitches = approximately 4 inches, rib unstretched or 9.5 stitches per inch. You will lay a ruler over your swatch and count the number of stitches over 4 inches of fabric and that will tell you whether or not you are getting gauge. If you do not get gauge, you may need to change your needle size to get the correct number of stitches per inch.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
The pattern goes: Row 1: Slip 1 knitwise, k1, p2, *k2, p2, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, k2, p1.
The last 3 stitches should be: k2, p1?
What is the 3rd stitch made of?
Yours Ruth
Hi Ruth,
Thanks for writing in! I think that I see the confusion. Another way to write k2, p1 would be k1, k1, p1. This encapsulates the last 3 stitches of the row.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Hi Cassy,
now it’s totaly clear.
Thanks a lot.
Ruth
Good morning. I am looking for a scarf pattern for my husband. Is this one you recommend, or do you have other suggestions?
Hi Joanne,
I think that this would make a great scarf for your husband! Other popular options for men include:
Cobblestone Scarf
Double Seed Stitch Scarf
Men’s Mini Herringbone Scarf
I think that any of these options would make a great scarf for your husband!
Happy knitting,
Cassy
Hi, what other yarn can be used other than this one please? I am in UK, and love this site.
Many thanks
Hi Trudy,
Great question! Our Mulberry Merino comes in at a Sport/DK weight. This would be some where between a 5 and an 8 ply in UK yarn weights.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Does anyone have any ideas how to do this pattern as a hat? I’ve don’t it as a scarf and love the stretchiness of it, it’s so beautiful!
Hi Katrina,
Great question! This scarf is done in a Sport/Dk weight. My best suggestion is to find a ribbed hat in that weight and use the stitch pattern to modify the pattern you find. To accomplish mistake rib in the round, the rounds will be as follows:
Round 1: *K2, p2, repeat from * to end of round.
Round 2: P1, *k2, p2, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, k2, p1.
Repeat round 1 and 2.
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
I think the confusion with the initial slip stitch comes because you say “slip as if to knit,” but do not specify whether to hold the yarn in the front or the back. Could you please be specific? I think this would help all patterns even though the rule is supposed to be in front unless otherwise specified.
Thank you,
Ann
Hi Ann,
Thanks for writing us! Sorry for the confusion on this! I would actually say that slipping knitwise with the yarn in back would be better for this because your last stitch on the previous row is a purl. Try both an let us know what you think!
Best of luck!
-Adam
Which cast-on method do you recommend for this scarf? Also, is there a particular one you would suggest when making a swatch
regardless of the pattern?
I am a beginning knitter and am very inspired by your site.
Sincerely,
Carmen
Hi Carmen,
Great question! Unless otherwise noted, we use the long tail cast-on. We think that it is very versatile and easy to accomplish a nice looking finished edge. On a swatch, I would suggest using the same cast-on that you plan on using on the project. This also gives you the opportunity to practice the cast-on before starting your project.
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
Have not tried the pattern yet but in looking at it, wondering if you have made it into an infinity scarf ? Would it work? I consider myself sort of an expert knitter and don’t see why it wouldn’t. Thanks!
Hi Reita,
Thanks for writing in to us! We actually do have a cowl pattern in this stitch called the Mistake Rib Cowl. It’s quite lovely!
-Adam
Can this be made with a larger needle and chunkier yarn? I have some lovely bulk Yarn that I think would look well in this pattern. I was thinking of using a size 11 needle. Love your patterns!
Hi Stephanie,
Great question! This lovely scarf can be knit in any weight yarn using the appropriate size needles for that yarn. The Mistake Rib is worked over a multiple of 4 + 3 stitches. To determine your cast on number, multiply the number of stitches you are getting per inch by how wide you would like the scarf. Then make sure that that number is a multiple of 4 + 3 and you should be good to go!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Hi. I am currently working on the mistake rib scarf using the peacock blue. It is quiet lovely and a pleasure to knit. I wasn’t sure at first how it was really going to turn out. I restarted the scarf 3 times, thinking I had misread the pattern. I finally just kept at it. And as I said, Lovely! I would definitely knit this again in another color.
I am just about to finish the first ball of yarn & I was wondering what method was used to join a new ball to the existing? Any help you could provide would be appreciated.
Happy Holidays!
Jennifer
Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for writing in! I am so glad to hear that the pattern is coming along nicely! To join a new ball of wool, at the beginning of a new row, you will stop knitting with the yarn that you have been knitting with and begin knitting with the new yarn. Be sure to leave a tail on the new yarn of at least 8 inches and be sure to pull the tail of the old yarn on the first few stitches and you will be good to go. When you are finished knitting the scarf, you will weave those loose ends in.
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
I’d like to knit this scarf a little wider, about 9 inches across. Could you tell me how many stitches to cast on?
Many thanks
Hi Catherine,
Thanks for writing in! This lovely pattern is worked over a multiple of 4 stiches plus 3 stitches. For a scarf about 9 inches wide, you should cast on 83 stitches. You will also need an additional skein of yarn to achieve this lovely scarf!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Question: When finished..should this scarf be blocked or will it ruin the texture of the ribbing…and therefore should not be blocked?
Hello Lynne,
Thank you for your question! You can definitely block the Mistake Rib Scarf, we recommend the gentle hand blocking technique we discuss in our Blocking Tutorial. Please let us know if you have further questions. Again, thank you for writing in!
Best,
Kumeko
Question: I’d love to knit this scarf using US 8 size needles with the Worsted Twist yarn. I was just wondering how many skeins of Worsted Twist I would need in order to achieve the same size as shown here in the pattern? Thanks!
Hi Tarajee,
Thanks for writing in! I think that this scarf would be lovely in Worsted Twist! To make this scarf the same size as the Mulberry Merino version, you will need 3 skeins on US 8 needles. To get your cast on number, I would suggest knitting a gauge swatch in pattern and measuring the number of stitches per inch that you are getting. Then multiply that number by 7 inches. Mistake Rib is worked over a multiple of 4 + 3 stitches. So make sure that the number that you are casting on works with this formula and you should be good to. For example, if you are getting 4.5 stitches per inch, 4.5 x 7 = 31.5 and 4 x 7 = 28 + 3 = 31, so your cast on will be 31 stitches!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
I am ready to bind off. Confused on if I still slip the first stitch …. or knit it since it is a knit stitch? Thank you for your help.
Hi Jan,
Thanks for the question. You can knit this first stitch to bing off. No need to slip it! Best of luck!
-Adam
Hi there! I have some lovely worsted weight alpaca blend wool that I would love to use with this pattern. Do you have a suggestion for how I can modify the pattern so that the scarf won’t be waaaay too wide? And how much yardage might be required? I want to make sure I have enough.
Cheers,
Chanelle
Hi Chanelle,
Thanks for writing us! I’d do a small swatch to get your stitches per inch in the mistake rib stitch and then multiply that number by the width you desire. Usually a worsted weight scarf requires anywhere between 700-1000 yards of yarn, depending on the scarf pattern and how long/wide you want to make it. Let me know if you have any other questions!
-Adam
Would there need to be any changes to this pattern if I used flax down yarn instead?
Hi Kirsten,
Great question! Flax Down has a bit of a bulkier gauge than our Mulberry Merino. You will probably need to go up a needle size and you may need an additional skein. I would suggest knitting a gauge swatch and adjusting the cast on number accordingly. The pattern here is worked over a multiple of 4 + 3 stitches. So once you have your gauge, you can multiply the number of stitches you are getting per inch by 7 inches wide and pick a number that is closest to that number while still working with the multiple of 4 + 3 stitches.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
I know this is maybe too simple and I am making it more difficult than it is. But is driving me cray cray. I am working with bulky yarn and I have done 48 stitches plus 3. It just does not seem to be working right. The first step is slip one stitch purlwise, knit 1, purl two. Are you knitting into the first stitch that you slipped? Or are you slipping it and then knitting then next stitch. On the back and forth the ribs don’t line up.
Hi Robin,
Thanks for writing in! I think that I can help! The row reads “Slip 1 knitwise, k1, p2, *k2, p2, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, k2, p1.” You will be slipping the first stitch and knitting into the second stitch of the row. The result will be that there will be lined up ribs with a texture between them. I would give the pattern a few rows to show up and if you are still having difficulties, please get back in touch!
Best,
Cassy
would this work well for a prayer shawl?
Hi Linda,
Thanks for writing us. I guess this would work well as a prayer shawl but I am no expert on prayer shawls. It seems, from my Google search, that prayer shawls are a bit wider and involve some lace work. Maybe you could widen this pattern and add some yo, k2tog details. Let us know if you have any other questions!
-Adam
I would like to work on this project! Can I ask about binding off??
What does ‘Binding off in stitch pattern’ mean??
Sorry, I am still learning how to knit by my self.
Hi Han,
Thanks for the question. To bind off you’ll use the normal passover bind off. When you bind off in pattern that means that you knit the knit stitches and purl the purl stitches as you bind off. This ensures a nice clean edge. I hope this explains your question! Let me know if you need more help!
-Adam
I understand~ Thank you for your kind explaination. I’m still learning knitting and also english~ Thank you!
I am new at knitting. I have read that you should do your gauge in stockinette, but the pattern says-in pattern, unstretched.
Hi Cindy,
Thanks for writing in! Gauge swatches can be worked in a large variety of ways. In the case of textured patterns such as this one, your gauge in stockinette and in pattern could vary quite a bit. Here we ask that you complete a gauge swatch in pattern as it will give you a better idea of how to alter your needle size to get gauge on this lovely project!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Yes it did. Thanks for clarifying that.
Can this be made with woolfolk? Would I need a different size needle? I believe woolfolk is 50gram.
Hi Carmen,
Thanks for writing in! You can certainly use most gauge yarns with this pattern by just changing the needles. If you would like to use Woolfolk Far, you can use the same needles and cast on number with 7 skeins of Far. If you would like to use any of the other Woolfolk yarns, modifications will need to be made to cast on number and needles. We’d be happy to help you would with numbers if you would like to use an alternate yarn.
Best,
Cassy
Thanks for replying Cassy. I have woolfolk sno yarn. I have tried doing a swatch with size 7 needles but it seems pretty loose. I would appreciate any help you can give with respect to modifications.
Hi Carmen,
Thanks for writing back! Woolfolk Sno is quite a bit smaller than the yarn called for here. You will need to use a US 3 or US 4 needle to get a pleasing fabric. I think that you will need roughly 4.5 skeins of Sno to get a 7 x 70 scarf. You will then need to knit a gauge swatch in pattern, measure how many stitches you are getting per inch and multiply that number by 7 inches. This pattern works over a multiple of 4 stitches plus 3. You will cast on the nearest number that matches this formula. For example, if you are getting 6 stitches per inch, 6 x 7 = 42. The nearest number to this that matches 42 is 43, so you would cast on 43 stitches.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Excellent! Thank you so much for the advice and help.
Oops… I am using size 6 needles.