English rib – an overview

English rib – an overview

English rib (sometimes referred to as Brioche) is a knitting technique where you occasionally use double stitches to achieve a clear and visible striped pattern in your work – similar to a rib edge. The technique gives a fuller, thicker result that is great for working scarves, blankets and sweaters.

There are numerous variations of English rib – ranging from which/how many stitches you work between the stripes (how close they are) to the specific technique used. Some variations give a striped pattern on one side only, while other variations give the same striped pattern on both sides of the work. English rib can also be worked with 2 colors – which adds a nice effect, where the right and wrong side have opposite color schemes.

However, what all English rib variations have in common is that you work with double stitches (either by making yarn overs, or working in the stitch from the previous row/round) – thus it requires more yarn than regular rib edge.

The 4 most common English rib techniques are:

English rib and Fisherman’s rib gives almost identical results – the Fisherman’s rib can however be slightly tighter than English rib, as it is worked in the stitch below. They both give you the same pattern on the right and wrong side.

False English rib uses the same technique as English rib, but you only work the pattern on every other row/round.

Similarly, False Fisherman’s rib uses the same technique as Fisherman’s rib, but you only work the pattern on every other row/round.

Both False English rib and False Fisherman’s rib give a result with different patterns on the right side and the wrong side – they are therefore less yarn consuming techniques than English rib and Fisherman’s rib.


How to work the 4 English rib techniques

These techniques can be worked both back and forth on the needle, or on the round. They can also be worked over an even and an odd number of stitches. The explanations below are worked back and forth on the needle, over an uneven number of stitches.

The picture to the left shows the work from the right side and the picture to the right shows the work from the wrong side.

English rib

This is the most common technique for working English Rib and it gives a result which is identical on right and wrong sides.

Work as follows (with 1 edge stitch in garter in each side):

Row 1: 1 garter stitch *Knit 1, 1 yarn over, slip 1 stitch purlwise*, repeat from *-* until 2 stiches remain, knit 1, 1 garter stitch.

Row 2: 1 garter stitch *1 yarn over, slip 1 stitch purlwise, knit yarn over and the slipped stitch together*, repeat from *-* until 2 stitches remain, 1 yarn over, slip 1 stitch purlwise, 1 garter stitch.

Row 3: 1 garter stitch *knit yarn over and the slipped stitch together, 1 yarn over, slip 1 stitch purlwise* repeat from *-* until 3 stitch remain. Knit yarn over and the slipped stitch together, 1 garter stitch.

Repeat row 2 and 3.

See DROPS video: How to knit English Rib

Fisherman's rib

This technique gives a result that is identical on the right and wrong side.

Work as follows (with 1 edge stitch in garter in each side):

Row 1 (Wrong side): knit all stitches.

Row 2 (Right side): Knit 1, *Purl 1, knit 1 in the stitch directly below next stitch* repeat from *-* until the end of the row.

Repeat row 2.

See DROPS video: How to work fisherman's rib back and forth on the needle

False English rib

False English rib uses the same technique as English rib, but you only make yarn overs every other row/round – there will be a striped pattern on the right side only.

Work as follows (with 1 edge stitch in garter in each side):

Row 1: 1 garter stitch, *knit 1, 1 yarn over, slip 1 stitch purlwise*, repeat from *-*until 2 stitches remain, knit 1, 1 garter stitch.

Row 2: 1 garter stitch, * knit 1, purl yarn over and slipped stitch together*, repeat from *-* until 2 stitches remain, knit 1, 1 garter.

Repeat row 1 and 2.

See DROPS video: How to knit False English Rib (1)

False Fisherman's rib

False Fisherman’s rib uses the same technique as Fisherman’s rib, but you only work in the stitch below every other row/round – there will be a striped pattern on the right side only.

Work as follows (with 1 edge stitch in garter in each side):

Row 1 (Wrong side): knit all stitches.

Row 2 (Right side): knit 1, *purl 1, knit 1 in the stitch directly below next stitch* repeat from *-* until the end of the row. (When the stitch count is uneven finish row with purl 1).

Repeat row 1 and 2.

See DROPS video: How to knit Shaker Rib

Comments (74)

Radhika Compton wrote:

Hi, Does False English Rib use more yarn than stockinette stitch?

12.01.2024 - 13:07:

Lena wrote:

Jag vill sticka på rundsticka. Hur ska jag sticka då?

26.12.2023 - 11:57:

DROPS Design answered:

Hei Lena. Ta en titt på denne videoen: Hur man stickar helpatent runt Evnt søk på ordet patent og se igjennom de videoen vi har. mvh DROPS Design

08.01.2024 - 10:13:

Anja wrote:

Hei. Strikkefasthet for garnet angis på nøstene, men min erfaring er at patentstrikk har en annen strikkefasthet. Har dere noen formening om hvordan strikkefasthet for patentstrikk er sammen liknet med oppgitt strikkefasthet? Eksempelvis 20m/10cm oppgitt strikkefasthet, hva kan man forvente at patentstrikk av samme garn vil ha?

06.12.2023 - 07:22:

DROPS Design answered:

Hei Anja. Det er oppgitt en strikkefasthet på nøstet (i glattstrikk), men når du skal strikke noe i patent, vil det i oppskriften være opplyst strikkefastheten i patent (om det kun strikkes patent). Men denne strikkefastheten kan variere fra oppskrift til oppskrift. mvh DROPS Design

11.12.2023 - 07:08:

Kari wrote:

Kan jeg bytte ut helpatent med halvpatent i oppskriften? Hva blir i så fall konsekvensen?

15.11.2023 - 20:05:

DROPS Design answered:

Hej Kari, ja men lav en strikkeprøve så du er sikker på at få den strikkefasthed som står i opskriften :)

17.11.2023 - 11:12:

Anita wrote:

Hvordan måler man lengde på halpatent?

07.09.2023 - 12:47:

Benedikte wrote:

Hej. Lukker man af i to-farvet patent, som man lukker af i rib?

28.08.2023 - 16:37:

DROPS Design answered:

Hei Benedikte Ja, det kan du. Husk det kan være lurt å Det felle av kastene som egne masker. Dette gjøres for at avfellingskanten ikke skal stramme arbeidet. mvh DROPS Design

04.09.2023 - 08:12:

Inge Haugaard wrote:

Slår man et lige eller ulige antal masker op? (Sikkert et dumt spørgsmål)

12.07.2023 - 16:18:

DROPS Design answered:

Hei Inge. Strikkes arbeidet frem og tilbake og du vil at arbeide du strikker skal avslutte likt som du starter, blir maskeantallet ujevnt. Strikkes arbeidet rundt blir maskeantallet jevnt. mvh DROPS Design

24.07.2023 - 08:53:

Inger-Lise wrote:

Hvordan strikke german short rows i halvpatentstrikk?? Finner ingen god forklaring..

11.07.2023 - 11:55:

DROPS Design answered:

Hei Inger-Lise. Er det en DROPS -oppskrift som har en forhøyning (german short rows) i halvpatent? Oppgi DROPS nr. så skal hjelpe deg så godt vi kan. mvh DROPS Design

24.07.2023 - 08:49:

Else Karin Døving wrote:

Hei. Hvordan klarer en å telle omgangane når en strikker helpantent med kast? Mvh Else Karin

28.06.2023 - 19:16:

DROPS Design answered:

Hej Else Karin, Hver store retmaske består af 2 omgange :)

29.06.2023 - 15:01:

Lærke wrote:

Hej! Når der står i min opskrift, at jeg skal strikke 11p halvpatent, er det så seks pinde ret og fem pinde vrang (og her halvpatentpinden) så det er 11 pinde i alt, eller 11 retpinde og 11 vrangpinde?

16.05.2023 - 13:02:

DROPS Design answered:

Hej Lærke, det skulle jeg tro, men det kommer an på hvilken opskrift det er. Skriv dit spørgsmål ind i selve DROPS opskriften, skriv hvilken størrelse du strikker og hvor du er kørt fast, så svarer vi så godt vi kan :)

17.05.2023 - 10:56:

Shilps wrote:

Is half Fisherman's rib any different to false Fisherman's rib?

28.04.2023 - 00:56:

Silje wrote:

Hei! Jeg ønsker meg også veldig en video og inngående forklaring om hvordan man tar opp masker i ulike typer patentstrikk. Jeg har lett overalt! Kan dere hjelpe? Jeg måtte rekke opp et prosjekt i halvpatent fire ganger, og til slutt ga jeg opp. På forhånd takk!

12.04.2023 - 16:38:

DROPS Design answered:

Hei Silje. Takk for din tilbakemelding. Vi skriver opp ditt forslag i vår videoønske liste. mvh DROPS Design

14.04.2023 - 09:19:

Isabella wrote:

Hej! Har försökt hitta information om hur man repar upp halvpatentmaskor, men hittar ingenstans. Jag stickar en väst som har mönster i halvpatentmaskor vissa varv. Tyvärr har jag nu insett att jag stickst fel så att mönstret blivit förskjutet och jag behöver repa upp några varv. De vanliga räta och aviga maskorna kan jag repa upp men hur bär man sig åt för att repa upp maskor i halvpatent? Tacksam för råd!

30.03.2023 - 19:41:

DROPS Design answered:

Hei Isabella. Vi har dessverre ingen video på fikse/rekke opp halvpatent, kun en enkel video på hvordan reparere helpatent. Anbefaler deg å få hjelp av din garnbutikk, da det er svært å skal forklare det skriftlig uten å se arbeidet ditt. mvh DROPS Design

14.04.2023 - 08:29:

Pilar Morales wrote:

Hola soy un fan de ustedes me encantaría aprender más en tejidos en dos agujas técnicas de emprendimiento . Gracias un saludo desde Colombia

18.03.2023 - 18:43:

Aggy wrote:

Hvordan teller man patent masker?

06.03.2023 - 18:56:

DROPS Design answered:

Hei Aggy. Du teller masken og kastet som tilhører denne masken (patentmaskene) som 1 maske. mvh DROPS Design

13.03.2023 - 07:18:

Celina wrote:

Hei! Jeg strikker genser i halvpatent for første gang. Hvordan kan jeg rekke opp masker som er strikket halvpatent, dersom jeg f.eks må ta opp en pinne fordi jeg har strikket feil?

10.02.2023 - 14:56:

DROPS Design answered:

Hei Celina. Lett å miste oversikten i patent når man må rekke opp. Prøv å bare rekke opp 1 og 1 maske. mvh DROPS Design

13.02.2023 - 07:24:

Laroche wrote:

Re J'ai oublié de dire dans mon précédent message que j'ai utilisé les côtes anglaises en mailles doubles pour mes chaussons, et non avec jetés. Merci si vous pouvez m'aider à résoudre mon problème, sinon je recommencerais tout à zéro.

29.01.2023 - 12:50:

DROPS Design answered:

Bonjour Mme Laroche, ce devrait être encore plus simple alors, essayez de détricoter jusqu'à un rang sur l'envers, lorsque vous aviez tricoté toutes les mailles à l'endroit, ainsi, vous devriez mieux pouvoir les récupérer (quitte à détricoter un ou 2 rangs supplémentaires, et à reprendre les mailles une à une avec une aiguille plus fine). Bonne continuation!

30.01.2023 - 10:17:

Laroche wrote:

Bonjour, Je suis en train de faire des chaussons en côtes anglaises. J'ai dû détricoter plusieurs rangs et ai vu votre vidéo pour récupérer les mailles. Seulement je me retrouve maintenant avec des jetés et trop de points. Comment faites vous pour le rang suivant svp ? Une petîle vidéo ? Merci d'avance.

29.01.2023 - 11:56:

DROPS Design answered:

Bonjour Mme Laroche, nous avons seulement cette vidéo qui vous montre comment placer vos mailles/jetés avant de les reprendre sur l'aiguille pour continuer à tricoter les côtes anglaises, attention à ne pas trop tirer sur le fil pour éviter de défaire trop de mailes. Bon tricot!

30.01.2023 - 10:06:

Nicole wrote:

Bonjour Comment fait-on une augmentation sur ce point de côte anglaise ou autre nom de côte perlée Avez vous une vidéo sur le ce sujet merci de votre aide et solutions

21.01.2023 - 12:38:

DROPS Design answered:

Bonjour Nicole, vous trouverez ici quelques vidéos montrant différentes techniques concernant les côtes anglaises y compris différentes techniques pour augmenter et diminuer. Bon tricot!

23.01.2023 - 11:02:

Maria Teresa wrote:

Quali tipi di filati sono adatti per il punto coste inglesi o fisherman's rib? Grazie. What types of yarn are suitable for English rib or fisherman's rib stitch? Thank you.

04.01.2023 - 15:47:

DROPS Design answered:

Buonasera Maria Teresa, a questo link può trovare i nostri modelli lavorati a coste inglesi e i filati con cui sono stati realizzati. Buon lavoro!

05.01.2023 - 22:37:

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