1x1 Rib

1x1 rib knits one knit stitch and one purl stitch in a repeating column, which is what makes the fabric compress and rebound: pull it and the columns spread; let go and they snap back toward each other. It's the tightest common rib gauge, denser than 2x1 or 2x2 rib, which is why it shows up on the smallest, highest-stress parts of a garment rather than across a whole body panel.

Spec sheets for basics like the Gildan 5000 or Bella+Canvas 3001 call out 1x1 rib knit collars, and often 1x1 rib cuffs on the long-sleeve and fleece versions, and that single line tells you a lot. A well-knit 1x1 collar holds its shape wash after wash, while a loose, low-spandex rib goes slack fast and won't lie flat for a screen print or a printed neck label. We've seen cheap import blanks skip spandex in the rib entirely, and the collar rolls within a handful of washes.

When comparing blanks, feel the ribbing directly — a good 1x1 rib resists stretching out under light finger pressure and snaps back immediately. Ribbing knit with a touch of spandex, often 3-5%, holds its shape far longer than 100% cotton rib alone.

A common mix-up is treating "ribbed" as one generic spec across a size chart. 1x1, 2x1, and 2x2 rib all behave differently on the body — a 2x2 rib cuff sits looser and stretchier than a 1x1, so swapping the knit on a reorder can change fit at the wrist or neck even though the garment spec otherwise reads unchanged.