Are you in the search for a crochet ribbing to add to your sweater, beanie, or any other project?

You have come to the right place. Here you will learn 10 ways on how to crochet ribbing.

When I was designing my first crochet sweater (the York), I was in the lookout of an edging to add as ribbing.

To my surprise, I discovered much more crochet ribbing stitches than the ones I knew.

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They are so many and so versatile that they totally deserved their own blog post. But if you are asking yourself how to do a ribbed crochet stitch, then you have come to the right place.

Some of them you may already know, but I bet you will find at least one you had no idea existed.

Depending on the look you want to give to your project you will find more than enough inspiration here. Some of them scream crochet and some look like they are knitted.

You can use this post as a look book, to give you inspiration for your next design, or as a crochet ribbing tutorial for many new stitches.

Most of the crochet ribbings that are mentioned below can be worked flat but also in the round.

Let’s begin, shall we?

10 types of crochet ribbing

1. Fpdc, Bpdc

This is a classic one and works well with just about anything. Sweaters, beanies, blankets, etc.

The initials stand for Front post double crochet and Back post double crochet.

Although I only mention double crochet in this post, the same can be done with Fphdc (Front post half double crochet) and Bphdc (Back post half double crochet), and also with single crochet. You get the idea… It only depends on how you want your project to look.

If you have no idea what I am talking about let’s go through a small tutorial.

For the Front post double crochet

Worked flat:

First, make a row of double crochet stitches. Chain 2 to start your new row. Yarn over and insert your hook from the front of your work right next to the post (the body) of the crochet stitch of the previous row.

Travel through the back and exit on the other side of your stitch.

Yarn over and pull through,

yarn over and pull through 2 loops on your hook,

yarn over and pull through last 2 loops on your hook. That’s it!

For the Back post double crochet

It is exactly the same as the Front post double crochet but you change the way you insert your hook.

This time you will yarn over and insert your hook from the back of your work, travel on the front and exit on the back again.

Yarn over and pull through,

yarn over and pull through 2 loops on your hook,

yarn over and pull through last 2 loops on your hook.

To create the ribbing keep alternating a Fpdc and a Bpdc. A pattern would look like this:

R1: ch x (even number) of chain, dc in third chain from hook, dc in all chains until end, ch 2, turn
R2: * Fpdc, Bpdc *, repeat from * to *, ch 2, turn
R3: * Bpdc, Fpdc * , repeat from * to *, ch 2, turn
R4-…: repeat rows 2 and 3

Worked in the round:

For the same result but in the round, like the brim of a beanie, you just join to make a circle in the first row. A pattern would look like this:

R1: ch x (even number) of chain, dc in third chain from hook, dc in all chains until end, sl st to join, ch 2
R2: * Fpdc, Bpdc *, repeat from * to *, sl st to join, ch 2
R3-…: repeat round 2

Single crochet and half double crochet post stitches work the same way.

They are actually the same stitches that you have used to, with a bit different way of inserting your hook.

Always around the post, from the front to the back for a front post stitch and from the back to the front for a back post stitch.

2. Hdc in the tlo

The abbreviation above means half double crochet in the third loop only. I have another blog post on how to locate the third loop of a half double crochet.

This stitch can also be used for a crochet ribbing in the round as well as flat and it produces a slightly different result.

Let’s start with working this stitch in the round. It looks much better in a spiral though, without joining your rounds. You can make it with joined rounds, you just will have a seam.

A pattern would look like this:

R1: MR, 8 hdc in ring, do not join, place a marker in first st of the next round
R2: 2 hdc in each st around
R3-…: continue increasing using this method

The third loop of a hdc when working in the round is located at the back of each stitch.

You may have to tilt your project a bit to locate it at first. Continue as you would normally do for a spiral project, a hat, a ball, anything.

When working the same stitch flat in rows the third loop of the half double crochet is located in the front of your work.

Start by making a row of half double crochet stitches, ch1, turn

The third loop is now located in the front of your work. Make the hdc stitches as usual.

This is how the next row will look. See that beautiful ribbing?

3. Sc in blo

Single crochet in back loop only, another classic crochet ribbing technique.

Worked flat:

Single crochet the number of stitches you want for your ribbing. Chain 1 and turn.

Single crochet in the back loop only in each stitch across. Ch 1, turn.

Repeat for as many rows as you like to complete the ribbing.

A pattern would look like this:

R1: ch x sts, sc in second chain from hook and in all chs across, ch 1, turn
R2: sc in blo in each st across, ch 1, turn
R3-…: repeat R2

Worked in the round:

The same technique can be worked in the round but only if you join your rounds AND turn.

Free crochet patterns you may like:

From left to right: Ombre crochet wall hanging, Timeless crochet infinity scarf, crochet potholders.

4. Sl st in blo

This may be my favorite ribbed crochet stitch ever! And it uses the controversial slip stitches!

I know many people hate to work with slip stitches because they are very time consuming and eat up a lot of yarn without producing much result due to their low height.

But I really love them! They produce such a cool knit-like fabric. My adorable crochet pumpkins are actually made using this ribbing technique, slip stitch in the back loop only.

Worked flat:

Chain any number of stitches for your project and slip stitch back from the second chain from hook until you reach the end.

Chain 1, sl st in back loop only across.

Repeat for as many rows you like.

A pattern would look like this:

R1: ch x, sl st in second ch from hook and in all chs, ch 1, turn
R2: sl st in blo in each st across, ch 1, turn
R3-…: repeat R2

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5. Sc and sl st

This crochet ribbing is worked flat and also produces a nice knit-like fabric. You just make a row of single crochet stitches, and then work the next row with slip stitches under both loops.

Make a row of single crochet stitches, chain 1 and turn.

For the next row make slip stitches under both loops. Chain 1 and turn.

Continue alternating a row of single crochet with a row of slip stitches.

A pattern would look like this:

R1: ch x sts, sc in second ch from hook and in all chs across, ch 1, turn
R2: sl st in all sts across, ch 1, turn
R3: sc in each st across, ch 1, turn
R4-…: repeat rows 2 and 3

6.Yo-sl st in blo

This one I discovered recently and fell in love with. It is actually the one I used for my York sweater. The yarn over slip stitch is another crochet ribbing technique that looks much like it is knitted.

Chain as many stitches as you like. Yarn over and insert hook in the second chain from hook. Yarn over and draw up a loop.

Now, draw that last loop on your hook through the other two.

First yarn over slip stitch just made. Continue in this manner across, chain and turn.

Repeat the same process for the yarn over slip stitch but only through the back loop.

This stitch is worked only flat.

A pattern would like this:

R1: ch x sts, yo-sl st in the second chain from hook and in all chs across, ch 1, turn
R2: yo-sl st in blo in each st across, ch 1, turn
R3-…: repeat row 2

7.Yo-sl st in third loop front

Almost identical with just a small maybe insignificant change is the yarn over slip stitch in the third loop front.

What is that small difference?

The yarn over slip stitch in the third loop front is not as stretchy as the yarn over slip stitch in the back loop only. So choose accordingly.

If you want your crochet piece to stretch, like the brim of a beanie, go with the yo-sl blo. If you want to create a more dense fabric, go with the yo-sl st tl front.

Repeat the same process as above for the first row. After you chain 1 and turn…

…instead of inserting your hook through the back loop only, you will aim for the third loop that is located in the front.

Can you see it better now?

This stitch is worked only flat.

A pattern would like this:

R1: ch x sts, yo-sl st in the second chain from hook and in all chs across, ch 1, turn
R2: yo-sl st in the third loop front in each st across, ch 1, turn
R3-…: repeat row 2

Patterns featuring crochet ribbing:

From left to right: Adorable crochet pumpkins, Aberdeen crochet shawl, two buttons hat.

8. Hdc and sl st

If you must know one way of how to crochet ribbing that looks knit, it’s this one!

The combination of half double crochet and slip stitches create an effect much like the k1, p1 ribbing in knitting. Classic and elegant.

Begin by making a row of half double crochet stitches.

Chain 1 and turn. Slip stitch under both loops in each stitch across.

Chain 1 and turn. Repeat the 2 steps above!

This crochet ribbing is worked only flat. A pattern would look like this:

R1: ch x sts, hdc in the second chain from hook and in each ch across, ch 1, turn
R2: sl st in each st across, ch 1, turn
R3: hdc in each st across, ch 1, turn
R4-…: repeat rows 2 and 3

9. Bpsc or Fpsc

This crochet ribbing can be created either by front post single crochet stitches or by back post single crochet stitches.

Start by making a row of single crochet stitches.

Now, depending on the project you are making and which is your wrong and right side you can continue the next row with back post single crochet stitches, or…

…front post single crochet stitches.

This one here is the wrong side of the fabric.

And this is how your ribbing is going to look like in its right side.

This ribbing is worked only flat. A pattern would look like this:

R1: ch x sts, sc in the second chain from hook and in all chs across, ch 1, turn
R2: bpsc (or fpsc) in each st across, ch 1, turn
R3: sc in each st across, ch 1, turn
R4-…: repeat rows 2 and 3

10. Sc in tlo

And last but not least a crochet ribbing that creates a very similar effect with the one above.

The single crochet in third loop only is actually worked in the vertical bar of the back side of the single crochet. Let’s take a look.

Make a row of single crochet stitches, chain 1 and turn. Now, insert your hook in the vertical bar of the single crochet that is located in front of you now and complete a single crochet stitch as normal.

Take a better look at what is the vertical bar of the single crochet.

And this stitch also is worked only flat. A pattern would look like this:

R1: ch x sts, sc in second ch from hook and in each ch across, ch 1, turn
R2: sc in tlo in each st across, ch 1, turn
R3: sc in each st across, ch 1, turn
R4-…: repeat rows 2 and 3

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Types of crochet ribbing conclusion:

Well, these are all I know so far. Did I forget anything? Do you know any other crochet ribbing in the round or flat that are not mentioned in this blog post?

You can use more combinations of the stitched described above and depending on the result you want to accomplish, you could choose either of them.

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