Zig-Zag Serpentine Rib Knitting Pattern
It's just 1x1 rib, but the knit stitches are stretched and twisted, first one way and then the other, so they wriggle up the fabric like little snakes.
This zig-zag rib is really just knit-one-purl-one ribbing, but it gives a raised, snake-like look (naagin bunai) and it's very easy. The back looks like ordinary 1x1 rib.
Stitch count
Any odd number, such as 11, 19, 21 or 35.
What you'll need
- Any wool. A smooth wool shows the zig-zag best
- Knitting needles to suit your yarn
Foundation row (worked once)
- RS:
Slip 1. *Purl 1, knit 1.* Repeat. With an odd number, the last stitch is a knit.
The 4-row pattern (starts on the wrong side)
- Row 1 (WS):wrong side
Slip 1. *Knit 1, then purl 1 wrapping the yarn twice around the needle.* Repeat. Knit the last pattern stitch, then purl the edge stitch normally. The double wrap makes the stitch longer.
- Row 2 (RS):right side
Slip 1. *Purl 1. Take the yarn back, slip the long stitch off (dropping the extra wrap) and put it back on the left needle. Now bring it under the second of the two strands you can see on its right, twisting it across, and leave it on the right needle unworked. Bring the yarn forward.* Repeat. Purl the last pattern stitch, knit the edge stitch.
- Row 3 (WS):wrong side
As row 1: knit the knit stitches, purl the others wrapping twice.
- Row 4 (RS):right side
As row 2, but this time bring each long stitch out on its left side instead of its right.
Repeat these 4 rows. Because the long stitch twists right on one row and left on the next, the ribs zig-zag like a serpent.
- zig zag knitting
- serpentine stitch
- rib pattern
- 1x1 rib
- raised knitting
- textured knitting
- hand knitting
- wool
