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If you want to knit a scarf with fun texture that doesn’t curl, a mistake rib scarf may be just the thing. I’ve knit a few different scarves using mistake rib in the past (and this pattern was originally available on About, but is no longer available even through Internet Archive) and it’s a great stitch for a basic scarf for men, women and kids.
What is Mistake Rib?
Barbara G. Walker says that mistake rib (which she calls Mistake-Stitch Ribbing in A Treasury of Knitting Patterns) may have been discovered by accident. It’s a knit 2, purl 2 ribbing, but the “mistake” is having one fewer stitch than you would need for a full repeat.
Because the knit 2, purl 2 is repeated on each row, the columns of stitches don’t even line up like regular ribbing, but it does make a ridged fabric that is warm and nice to wear. And it’s easy to knit, too, because it’s just a one-row repeat.
It’s reversible, not curling
How to Knit Mistake Rib
Mistake Rib works on a multiple of 4 plus 3 stitches (so like 15, 19, 23, etc.). As mentioned above you just repeat the same row over and over:
*knit 2, purl 2. Repeat from *, ending with a knit2, purl 1.
The above swatch is worked on 19 stitches, using bulky yarn and size 10.5 US/6.5 mm knitting needles. Without stretching it’s about 4.5 inches/11.43 cm wide.
Mistake Rib Scarf Ideas
The two old mistake rib scarf knitting patterns I had (and honestly one of them I don’t even remember!) show a couple of options for how to knit a scarf using this pattern.
You can of course work it in any weight of yarn, with any number of stitches to make it the width you would like. You can work it in a solid color or stripes. Let’s walk through what I did for these mistake rib scarf patterns.
Striped Scarf
I know this scarf was worked in worsted weight acrylic yarn and I’m 95 percent sure it’s Red Heart Super Saver, though I’m not seeing that there’s a green of this particular shade any more (this pattern is from 2010 so it’s entirely possible the color was discontinued).
I used size 7 US/4.5 mm knitting needles.
I’m sure this used less than a skein each of two colors. I cast on 23 stitches. Cast on with your main color and work for 2 inches/5 cm.
Change to your second color and continue in pattern for 1 inch/2.5 cm.
Repeat this stripe pattern to your desired length. According to my original notes on Ravelry this scarf was 3.5 inches/8.89 cm wide 43 inches/a little more than a meter long. End with a main color section so the ends of the scarf match.
Pro tips: If you want smooth color changes on the right/front side of your scarf, knit every stitch of the first row of your color change, then continue in pattern. Because these stripes are relatively narrow, I also carried the yarn up the side instead of cutting the yarn and weaving in ends every color change.
Bulky Scarf
This second mistake rib scarf is the one I have no memory of, but it’s worked in super bulky yarn. I’m somewhat certain it might be the long-discontinued Lion Brand Martha Stewart Wool Roving, but that’s billed as a bulky.
Assuming this is super bulky, I would guess I probably knit it on size 11 US/8mm knitting needles.
Cast on 11 stitches and work in broken rib stitch to desired length.
I hope these mistake rib scarf patterns will inspire you to try knitting a mistake rib scarf! It’s lots of fun, easy and make a great gift or charity knitting pattern.
