Reversible Crochet Ribbing in 2 Colors

Create reversible crochet ribbing with a different look on each side! Worked in the round, this technique is perfect for hats, mitts, and cuffs. The video version of the tutorial also shows how it can be worked flat.

I used this reversible crochet ribbing on the Two Way Toque hat pattern.

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Front and Back Post Double Crochet

This technique uses front and back post double crochet stitches (fpdc and bpdc). The tutorial assumes you already know how to work those. If you don’t, here is a great front and back post stitch tutorial from Edie Eckman.

2 Colors

For the hat shown in this tutorial, I used leftover yarn from my Hand in Hand fingerless mitts pattern. I had used a 2-color, reversible ribbing in that knit pattern, and wanted to duplicate that look in crochet for this hat.

You will hear me refer to color A and B because that is how they are indicated in the hat pattern. Whichever color you decide is A or B, the important part is that one color (in my case color B) is always in the back and the other color is always in the front, throughout the ribbing.

Changing colors:

Always change colors in the last part of the previous stitch. In this case we’re working with double crochets, so when you get to the point where there are 2 loops left on your hook, drop the old color and finish the stitch with the new color instead.

For a more in depth look at changing colors, check out my changing colors tutorial.

Reversible Crochet Ribbing in the Round

Scroll down for video tutorial

Abbreviations:

ch = chain
fpdc = front post double crochet
bpdc = back post double crochet

Even stitch count

For this ribbing to work out well, you need to start with an even number of stitches. First, let’s look at how it works if you’re starting from a completed round of stitches. For example, if you have just crocheted a top-down hat and are finishing it with this reversible crochet ribbing.

Starting bpdc

Start the round with a ch 3 that counts as a bpdc. Just like in every other stitch, we’re going to change colors in the last part. This means that you ch 2 with your back color (color B in this case), and then you do the third chain with the new color (color A).

Dropping the yarn

Every time we change colors, we have to drop the yarn of the previous color. What side you drop the yarn on is important. The back color should always be dropped at the back, and the front color should always be dropped at the front. This keeps the two yarns from twisting together and is what makes the crochet ribbing reversible.

Alternating stitches

We have our first bpdc, so the next stitch will be a fpdc. Fpdc with color A in the next stitch, changing colors in the last part of the stitch. Remember to drop color A to the front as you pick up color B.

Now do a bpdc with color B in the next stitch. Again, change colors at the end of the stitch and this time drop color B to the back as you pick up color A.

Continue alternating in this way until you reach the end of the round.

Joining the round

When you get to the end, you should have just finished a fpdc and have changed to the back color (color B). Join the round with a slip stitch in the 2nd chain of the starting bpdc. This should be the topmost chain of the back color (color B).

In this case, it looks like I have 3 chains of the back color, but that bottom one is actually the slip stitch that joined the previous round.

Modifications:

Starting from a chain

Now let’s suppose you’re working this ribbing from a foundation chain, instead of from a previous row of stitches. It’s a bit fiddly to do this because of the two colors, but really not much changes from the previous instructions.

Chain an even number of stitches and join to work in the round, being sure not to twist your chain. Then continue exactly as above, except that instead of working fpdc and bpdc stitches, you will just be working normal dc stitches into the chain.

Working in Rows

When worked in rows, the main thing that changes is that the front and back colors switch every time you turn your work. The front color will now be at the back and vice versa. Also, you don’t need to change colors in the last stitch of the row, because your first stitch of the next row will be in the same color.

I explore this difference in the video tutorial below.

Reversible Crochet Ribbing – Video Tutorial

Watch this video on YouTube

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