How to Knit the Ridged Hearts Stitch Pattern

If you’ve been looking for a texture that stands out, the Ridged Hearts stitch is for you!

It’s a classic four-row repeat pattern, not too open, which creates little columns shaped like hearts.

Although you might think it’s made like most of the cable patterns (using a cable needle to cross stitches), the good news is that there’s no need to.

We can make this crisscross effect by knitting and purling some stitches through the back loop.

Yarn & Needles

100% Merino Superwash wool yarn (worsted weight, nº 4, or medium). This one is perfect for cowls, scarves, hats, or sweaters, because it’s super smooth (non-fuzzy, not itchy at all!) #ad

US 8 (5 mm) wooden sharp tip needles #ad

“As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.”

Abbreviations

CO: Cast on

st: Stitch

sts: Stitches

RS: Right side of the work

K: Knit

P: Purl

wyib: with yarn in back

sl2kw: slip two stitches (one by one) purlwise. Pass 1 stitch as if to purl onto the right-hand needle, then pass the following one the same way

C2Left: Knit the second stitch (from right to left) through the back loop, don’t drop it, knit the first also through the back loop. Take both off the needle

C2Right: Purl the second stitch from right to left, don’t drop it, purl the first one. Drop both

BO: Bind off

WS: Wrong side of the work

Written Instructions for the Ridged Hearts Stitch

CO multiples of 4 + 2 (edge sts); i.e.: 4 * 4 = 16 + 2 = 18 sts.

1º Row (RS): K across

2º Row: P across

3º Row: K1 (edge), *wyib sl2pw, C2Left*. Repeat from * to *, to last st, K1 (edge)

4º Row: P1 (edge), *wyib sl2pw, C2Right*. Repeat from * to *, to last st, P1 (edge).

These four rows create the pattern.

Repeat them until the desired length is reached. When finished, BO knitwise after row 4 (RS).

How This Fabric Behaves

1.- It’s not reversible, this is the wrong side of the work:

2.- If you want to knit scarves, wraps, throughs, infinite cowls, or any other piece that should stay flat, think of adding a nice edge on each side, because it curls (at the bottom especially).

Add 3 – 4 stitches of garter, moss, or seed stitch on each edge and 4 – 5 rows at the beginning and at the end.

Best Projects for the Ridged Hearts Stitch

Blankets.
Shawls, scarves, and wraps.
Sweaters (or cardigans).
Vests (close or open).

Tips for Success

1.- Don’t pull the yarn after making the C2Left or Right (you wouldn’t want the strands behind the work shrinking the fabric because they’re not long enough.

2.- Block your work once it’s finished, this pattern looks much better afterwards 😉

3.- Use pointy needles (they are your best friends when knitting stitches through the back loop.