What's that stitch - beaded rib

Welcome to what's that stitch series! This is a pretty rib that adds a different texture to the rib. Learn what beaded rib is, how to do beaded rib and a few project ideas for using this stitch along with our handy stitch cards. 

[Start of image description: A photo of a yellow beaded rib stitch square with a border around it. On the top is a white rectangle at the top of the photo "What is that stitch?" Underneath is a sage green square with two white stripes and the words "Beaded rib".

What is beaded rib?

Beaded rib creates a different texture than rib and adds another dimension to the rib. I think it looks quite pretty compared to the k2, p2 rib or k1, p1 rib. 

[Start of image description: a photo of a yellow knitted beaded rib square with a ball of yellow yarn and pair of needles with needle point protected. In the middle is a sage green rectangle with a white border and the words "What's that stitch? Beaded rib. Underneath is a close up of an yellow knitted beaded rib square. End of image description.]

What does beaded rib look like?

Beaded rib looks a bit like ploughed fields with beads in between the rows of knitted rib, below is a square of what beaded rib looks like along with a close-up view of the texture of this stitch. 

[Start of image description: a wooden table with a pink knitted beaded rib square. End of image description.]

Here is a close up of the texture of the beaded rib:

[Start of image description: a close-up photo of the yellow knitted beaded rib square showing the texture of the stitch. End of image description.]

How do you do beaded rib?

Abbreviations

• P - Purl
• K - Knit

To do beaded rib you cast on in multiples of 5 then add another two stitches eg.

Cast on 5 stitches

Row 1: *P2, K1, P1, K1*, P2

Row 2: *K2, P3*, K2

So if you cast on 10 stitches

Row 1: *P2, K1, P1, K1, P2, K1, P1, K1*, P2

Row 2: *K2, P3, K2, P3*, K2

Repeat these two rows

Tips for doing beaded rib

• To keep track of the row mark the row repeats on paper or keep a track of the rows using a row counter. 
• Remember to as it is a rib stitch it won't stay flat and will spring inwards but it is stretchy.
• The garter stitch border helps the square flat and you could block it or you could lay it out and put a heavy book on it which is what I did for about an hour.
• You need to make sure you have an even number of stitches and have cast on multiples of 5 and then cast on 2 extra eg. cast on 10 stitches and add an extra 2 makes 12 stitches so the pattern comes out ok.  
• I would not recommend using a stretchy cast-off as the rib is quite stretchy.
• Have fun knitting this stitch and/or learning how to do this stitch.

[Start of image description: a wooden table with a two knitted beaded rib stitch square in yellow and pink. End of image description.]

How to make your own patchwork square

You need to know how to:

• Cast on 
• Cast off
• Knit
• Purl 

To do the bamboo stitch you cast on in multiples of 2, it is done in two simple rows. 

Abbreviations

• Yfd - Yarn forward
• M1 - Make 1 sitch

Knitting abbreviations - Free printable knitting abbreviations sheet

You will need:

• 5mm knitting needles
• DK/8ply
• 25 grams of yarn (75.5 yards/69 metres) 
• Row counter (If you do not have a row counter you can use pen and paper).

Gauge:

10x10cm

18 stitches and 28 rows

If it is too big go down a needle size and if it's too small go up a needle size. 

Gauge is in stocking stitch (knit 1 row, purl the next row)

[Start of image description: A wooden table with a yellow knitted seed stitch square with a garter stitch border around it. End of image description.]

Pattern:

Cast on ? stitches

WS (Wrong Side) Row 1: Knit

Row 2: Knit

Row 3: Knit

Row 4: Knit

Row 5: K4,*P2, K1, P1, K1*, repeat  P2, K4

Row 6: K4, *K2, P3*,  repeat, K6

Row 7: K4, *P2, K1, P1, K1*, repeat  P2, K4

Row 8: K4, *K2, P3*,  repeat, K6

Row 9: K4, *P2, K1, P1, K1*, repeat  P2, K4

Row 10: K4, *K2, P3*,  repeat, K6

Row 11: K4, *P2, K1, P1, K1*, repeat  P2, K4

Row 12: K4, *K2, P3*,  repeat, K6

Row 13: K4, *P2, K1, P1, K1*, repeat  P2, K4

Row 14: K4, *K2, P3*,  repeat, K6

Row 15: K4, *P2, K1, P1, K1*, repeat  P2, K4

Row 16: K4, *K2, P3*,  repeat, K6

Row 17: K4, *P2, K1, P1, K1*, repeat  P2, K4

Row 18: K4, *K2, P3*,  repeat, K6

Row 19:  K4, *P2, K1, P1, K1*, repeat  P2, K4

Row 20: K4, *K2, P3*,  repeat, K6

Row 21:  K4, *P2, K1, P1, K1*, repeat  P2, K4

Row 22: K4, *K2, P3*,  repeat, K6

Row 23:  K4, *P2, K1, P1, K1*, repeat  P2, K4

Row 24: K4, *K2, P3*,  repeat, K6

Row 25:  K4, *P2, K1, P1, K1*, repeat  P2, K4

Row 26: K4, *K2, P3*,  repeat, K6

Row 27: K4, *P2, K1, P1, K1*, repeat  P2, K4,

Row 28: K4, *K2, P3*,  repeat, K6

Row 29: K4, *P2, K1, P1, K1*, repeat  P2, K4

Row 30: K4, *K2, P3*,  repeat, K6

Row 31: K4, *P2, K1, P1, K1*, repeat  P2, K4 

Row 32: K4, *K2, P3*,  repeat, K6

Row 33: K4, *P2, K1, P1, K1*, repeat  P2, K4

Row 34: K4, *K2, P3*,  repeat, K6

Row 35: K4, *P2, K1, P1, K1*, repeat  P2, K4

Row 36: K4, *K2, P3*,  repeat, K6

Row 37: K4, *P2, K1, P1, K1*, repeat  P2, K4

Row 38: K4, *K2, P3*,  repeat, K6

Row 39: K4, *P2, K1, P1, K1*, repeat  P2, K4

Row 40: K4, *K2, P3*,  repeat, K6

Row 41: K4, *P2, K1, P1, K1*, repeat  P2, K4

Row 42: K4, *K2, P3*,  repeat, K6

Row 43: Knit

Row 44: Knit

Row 45: Knit

Row 46: Knit

Cast off 

[Start of image description: a yellow beaded rib square with a garter stitch border with a ball of yellow  yarn pair of knitting needles next to it. All items are sitting on top of a wooden table. End of image description.]

You could use your square to make:

• a blanket 
• a cotton dishcloth
• a cotton facecloth.
• a patchwork blanket using our what's that stitch post. 
• a scarf 

What can you make using beaded rib?

Beaded rib would look great on:

• a beanie.
• scarf. 
• on cuffs of a jumper.
• on cuffs of socks etc.
• a blanket. 
• a cotton dishcloth.
• a cotton facecloth.
• a patchwork blanket using our what's that stitch post. 

Free printable handy stitch cards

We have made you a free printable tile stitch handy stitch card for you, you could keep this in your knitting bag/basket, punch a hole and it on a key ring or get a piece of string and tie it onto the card. There are two tile stitch handy stitch cards to choose from a sage green background or a white background, each has how to do tile stitch on the back of the card.

Free printable handy stitch card in White 

Free printable handy stitch card in Sage Green

[Start of image description: A white background with a photo at the top centre.  The photo is of a wooden table with a yellow beaded rib with a garter stitch border around it.   Underneath is two brown stripes and then a brown rectangle with the words "what's that stitch?" and at the bottom is the words "Bamboo Stitch" and the words "cozy woodland cottage knits. blogspot .com. End of image description.]

[Start of image description: A sage green background with a photo at the top centre. The photo is of a wooden table with a yellow beaded rib with a garter stitch border around it. Underneath is two white stripes and then a white rectangle with the words "what's that stitch?" and at the bottom is the words "Bamboo Stitch" and the words "cozy woodland cottage knits. blogspot .com. End of image description.]

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[Start of image description: a photo of a yellow knitted beaded rib square.  Underneath is a sage green rectangle with  a white rectangle with the words "What's that stitch?" then the words "bamboo stitch". End of image description.]

Thank you for visiting Cozy Woodland Cottage Knits!

Have fun learning how to do basket stitch and making a project using this stitch. Don't forget to download your handy stitch cards. Check our stitch library What's that stitch? for more stitch pattern posts like this one. 

[Start of image description: Arjaye's signature with two toadstools in between the letter j and the letter y. Next to it is a fairy with blue hair, a green wreath headband, blue lips and yellow wigs, she is wearing a sage green dress. The fairy sitting on top of a yellow toadstool with blue dots and blue underneath the toadstool. Next to the fairy is a black cat holding a turquoise ball of yarn. End of image description.]

Related posts

What's that stitch - all stitches in the what's that stitch series