After years of knitting and crocheting ribbing I have found that I actually prefer knitted ribbing because it’s faster for me to create.  I know that lots of people feel this way too, so I wanted to provide some detail on the best ways to crochet onto knitted rib, knit off crocheted fabric (in the round and off row ends).  

• How to crochet onto knitted rib stitches 
• How to knit ribbing onto crochet stitches 
• How to knit ribbing across the end of crocheted rows 
• Differences between 1x1 rib and 2x2 rib on double crochet rounds (sc in US terminology)  
• Differences when needle size is reduced
• Differences between knitting 1x1 rib onto double crochet, half treble and treble row ends (sc, hdc and dc in US terminology) 
• Differences between knitting 1x1 rib onto double crochet, half treble and treble row ends (sc, hdc and dc in US terminology) when needle sizes are changed. 
• Differences in the number of stitches picked up across double crochet, half treble, treble (sc, hdc and dc in US terminology) for knitted 1x1 rib. 
• Where to place your needle/hook for each of the above scenarios. 
• My favoured needle size and stitch pick up ratios for all of the above.   

I am not trying to do crochet down at all with this blog post.  Crocheted ribbing works really well, but not for everyone.  

If you have never attempted crocheted ribbing, take a look at this blog post from Michelle at Dora Does.  She has created a directory of crocheted ribbed stitches.    

There are three main ways to combine knitted rib on a crocheted project: 

1. Knitted ribbing first, then crocheting off the knitted rib stitches.  This is most likely going to be done in the round (garments, socks, hats). 
2. Crocheted fabric first, then knitting rib off the crocheted stitches.  This is most likely going to be done in the round (garments, socks, hats). 
3. Crocheted fabric in rows, joined to create a round piece, then knitted rib added to the crocheted row ends.  This is most likely going to be added to garments with vertical rows and sleeves.    

Let’s split these down and show you how to do each.

1. With all 60 stitches on the circular needle and a crochet hook (size required for your project), loop the working yarn around your hook, keeping it tight. 
2. *Place the hook knitwise through the 1st stitch on the needle, yarn round hook and pull up a loop, slip the knitted stitch off the needle, yarn round hook, pull through both loops on hook.  This makes a double crochet (sc in US terminology) onto the 1st stitch of the knitted rib round. 
3. Repeat from * until every knitted stitch is off the needle and a full round of 60 crocheted double crochet (sc) stitches has been made.  

 Note – even if your pattern doesn’t use double crochet, I would still use double crochet as this initial set-up round and then move onto whatever stitch the pattern calls for.

1. 1 double crochet into 1st stitch of rib round, remove hook and place needle through the yarn loop and tighten.  This is your first picked up stitch.  Alternatively you can do this on the last crocheted stitch of the round, but it will move your beginning of round 1 stitch to the right.
2. Continuing with same working yarn, pick up and knit remaining crocheted stitches by placing needle under both loops of the v stitch, yarn over needle and pull it through. 
3. Place mark the beginning of round and work in whichever rib pattern you require that fits with the number of crocheted stitches.  

Left shows an initial crocheted fabric made with a 4mm hook, then knitted onto with a 4mm circular needle and 2x2 rib.  

Right shows an initial crocheted fabric made with a 4mm hook, then knitted onto with a 3.5mm circular needle and 2x2 rib.   

1. Decide how many stitches you are going to pick up for each row end – see sample swatches.     
2. Pick up and knit along the crocheted row ends by placing needle through the row where there is an obvious gap and at least two strands of yarn will be trapped, yarn over needle and pull it through. 
3. Place mark the beginning of round and work in whichever rib pattern you require that fits with the number of crocheted stitches. 

Left - 1 stitch for every row, 1x1 knitted rib with a 4mm hook

Right -  1 stitch for every row, 1x1 knitted rib with a 3.5mm hook at the bottom  

Left - 1 stitch for every row, 2x2 knitted rib with a 4mm hook

Right - 1 stitch for every row, 2x2 knitted rib with a 3.5mm hook 

Left - 1 stitch for every 2 rows, 1x1 knitted rib with a 4mm hook

Right - 1 stitch for every 2 rows, 1x1 knitted rib with a 3.5mm hook 

Left - 1 stitch for every 2 rows, 2x2 knitted rib with a 4mm hook

Right - 1 stitch for every 2 rows, 2x2 knitted rib with a 3.5mm hook 

 The samples show 24 rows of half treble crochet joined to make a tube.  Depending on the project you are making or effect required, you may want to use different needle sizes and pick up more or fewer row ends to knit. 

1. Decide how many stitches you are going to pick up for each row end – see sample swatches.     
2. Pick up and knit along the crocheted row ends by placing needle through the row where there is an obvious gap and at least two strands of yarn will be trapped, yarn over needle and pull it through. 
3. Place mark the beginning of round and work in whichever rib pattern you require that fits with the number of crocheted stitches. 

Left - 3 stitches for every 2 rows, 1x1 knitted rib with a 4mm hook

Right - 3 stitches for every 2 rows, 1x1 knitted rib with a 3.5mm hook 

Left - 1 stitch for every row, 2x2 knitted rib with a 4mm hook

Right - 1 st for every row, 2x2 knitted rib with a 3.5mm hook 

Left - 4 stitches for every 2 rows, 1x1 knitted rib with a 4mm hook

Right - 4 stitches for every 2 rows, 1x1 knitted rib with a 3.5mm hook  

Left - 3 sts for every 2 rows, 1x1 knitted rib with a 4mm hook 

Right - 3 sts for every 2 rows, 1x1 knitted rib with a 3.5mm hook 

 My favourites were: 

• Double crochet – 1 stitch per row end 
• Half treble crochet – 3 stitches for every 2 row ends 
• Treble crochet – 2 stitches per row end