Moodboard: PURL Spring 2027 (Ribbing)
The Spring issue of PURL is all about ribbing, and we want your help exploring every aspect of ribs. We all know that ribbing is often used due to its stretch, but let’s dig deeper into that: What impacts the elasticity of ribbing? Is 1×1 ribbing really the stretchiest? Which is the least elastic? How much does fiber content or yarn structure impact ribbing? Is 1×1 twisted rib really less elastic than 1×1 rib? What about half-twisted? And what if you don’t want any pull-in at all?
Can you tell us about ribbing’s visual impact and placement in a project? In which circumstances would we want to use a specific kind of ribbing? Which ribbing works best as a neckline and why? What does changing the ribbing on a cuff or hem do to the look of a sweater? How much ribbing does a sock cuff need?
Which rib is the bulkiest and lowest profile? How do you keep your ribbing from flipping up? Is there a magic number of inches, a ratio, or technique that helps? Is it better to pick up stitches in knit or rib for an edging?
We can’t forget about starting and finishing ribbing. Does your cast on impact your ribbing? What bind offs work well for ribbing? What about ribbing and folded hems? Often knitters use smaller needles for ribbing; is this important and if so, how much smaller? Is there a way to calculate how much ribbing will pull in?
There are so many fancy rib stitches; are they just pretty or do they have functional uses? What are they and when might we use them? Tell us about ribbing and color and ribbing as an all-over texture.
And of course we want to hear about your project ideas that feature ribbing, whether as a practical feature or as the star of the show.
Article and project proposals due by January 1, 2026.
You’ll hear back from us in February 2026.
Final articles, samples, and projects due by July 15, 2026.
Issue ships: February 2027