Ribbing:: Let's see the various ways to create it

Ribbings::  So easy.  So many ways to create ribbing.  Let's explore.

Once upon a time, when I was younger, the Flintstone's was an after school cartoon.  There was knitting in one episode.  Wilma was expecting a baby.  She sat in a chair knitting away for her new baby on a pair of baby booties while talking to Betty.  I can still hear her to this day, knit one, purl two, knit one, purl two.  Now I realize the cartoons back in the day were not terribly detailed but there was no ribbing to be seen.

Knit one, purl two is a three stitch repeat of ribbing.  It is more decorative than stretchy.  It is also not really balanced.  That's obvious when looking at it.  But I'm talking about working it.  Knit, purl, knit, purl, knit, purl.... This is a balanced stitch pattern.  It offers maximum stretch.  It offers an easy rhythm to knit to.  This is the same with knit two, purl two.

Ribbing of a sort can also be had from garter stitch.  When knitting every stitch on every row and turning at the end of the row creates a corrugated fabric very similar to knit one, purl one.  Double garter stitch (knit 1 row, purl 2 rows, knit 1 row and repeat these 4 rows) can almost substitute for knit 2, purl 2 ribbing.  I say almost because they aren't quite as stretchy but close.

Ribbing can also be had in a number of ways from crochet.

Ribbing can be done using just single crochet.  Now when you turn work only in the back loop and single crochet across the stitches.  Turn and again work in the back loop while single crocheting across.  Keep doing this and you will see how it has an accordion effect.  This is a very stretchy ribbing.  However, it can lose its stretch and cause over stretched loops.  To a certain extent this can be corrected by giving a vigorous tug from the sides, not the chain edge, evenly spaced across the entire ribbed section.

Ribbing with crochet can also be achieved by using post stitches.  Start with the chain and work double crochet across.  Chain 3 and turn.  Now work a front post double crochet around the second stitch.  Work a back post double crochet around the third stitch.  Repeat the front post and back post stitches across.  Chain 3 and turn.  Now make sure you work a front post double crochet on the stitches that protrude towards you and back post double crochet on the stitches that are trying to get away from you.  As you can see after a few rows, the stitches are very pronounced in their protrusions.  This won't stretch out like the above ribbing can do.

Which variant do you like and why?  I find specific uses for each rather than a favorite.