An even better symmetrical lace chevron

A bit over a year ago, I posted a way of making a lace chevron with completely symmetrical decreases, followed shortly thereafter by an improvement based on a reader suggestion.

Apparently I was still unsatisfied, however, because last week a thought popped into my brain: yes, use the three-to-two single decrease to compensate for the single yarn over at the bottom of the chevron, but not on the same row as the yarn over.

And it was good.

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The bunny ear decrease I talk about in my older post is what I now prefer to call a 3-to-2 decrease (because it’s descriptive of the action). Here’s the instructions for how to do it.

Yes, this makes the stitch count vary.

If doing the more densely packed chevrons, end after a row that has a 3-to-2 decrease if you want to end with the same number of stitches that you started with.

better symmetrical lace chevron

And here’s the chart and written instructions for my swatch above.

Notes:

  • This is a stitch pattern such as might be found in a stitch dictionary. It is not a pattern for a finished object. You will need to add selvedges or some other form of knitted stitches to either side.
  • Cast on a multiple of 10 stitches.
  • I’ve made a stitch map for it.
  • Designers, please feel free to use this stitch in your patterns. I’d like credit but won’t be offended if people don’t give it.
  • If you like my posts like this, please consider supporting me on Patreon or donating with my Paypal tip jar in the sidebar. Thanks!

Abbreviations:

  • 3-to-2 decrease: Ssk. Place second stitch of ssk on left needle. K2tog to join second and third stitches. Center stitch of three is decreased away to make two stitches.
  • k: knit.
  • k2tog: knit 2 stitches together as if they were 1. (Right-leaning decrease)
  • ssk: slip each of the next 2 stitches as if to knit, then knit them together through the back loop. (Left-leaning decrease)
  • yo: yarnover.

Row 1 (RS): *k5, yo, k5.* (11 sts)

Row 2 and all even rows: purl.

Row 3: *k3, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k3.*

Row 5: *k2, k2tog, yo, 3-to-2 decrease, yo, ssk, k2.* (10 sts)

Row 7: *k1, k2tog, yo, k4, yo, ssk, k1.*

Row 9: *k2tog, yo, k6, yo, ssk.*

Row 11: *k5, yo, k5.* (11 sts)

Row 13: *k3, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k3.*

Row 15: *k2, k2tog, yo, 3-to-2 decrease, yo, ssk, k2.* (10 sts)

Row 17: *k1, k2tog, (yo, k2) x 2, yo, ssk, k1.* (11 sts)

Row 19: *(K2tog, yo, k1) x 2, yo, ssk, k1, yo, ssk.*

Row 21: *k2, k2tog, yo, 3-to-2 decrease, yo, ssk, k2.* (10 sts)

Row 23: *k1, k2tog, (yo, k2) x 2, yo, ssk, k1.* (11 sts)

Row 25: *(k2tog, yo, k1) x 2, yo, ssk, k1, yo, ssk.*

Row 27: *k2, k2tog, yo, 3-to-2 decrease, yo, ssk, k2.* (10 sts)

Row 29: *k1, k2tog, (yo, k2) x 2, yo, ssk, k1.* (11 sts)

Row 31: *(K2tog, yo, k1) x 2, yo, ssk, k1, yo, ssk.*

Use this chevron variation wherever you’d like.

This sunny-colored yarn brought to you by a sweater my great-grandmother knit for my mother. It wore out in spots, and  I unraveled it for the yarn at a time when I needed yarn and had no money for it. It’s been cloudy and cold; I needed something bright. Also I’m a bit sentimental about it.