Étude no. 9: Little Eyes

I’ve been thinking for a while of trying to add k1‑below stitches into my lace patterns. A good place to start with including a new method in design is by including it in known structures to see how they change.

In the swatch above, I knit first an allover lace design, nothing unusual (it’s one called Star Rib Mesh), and then I knit a second swatchlet, substituting k1‑below stitches for regular knit stitches on the right side rows. To knit 1 below, instead of putting the needle into the stitch that’s waiting to be knit, put the needle into the stitch below. Knit that stitch and drop the one above; it will drop down and be caught by the stitch just knit. (More here, including a video.)

It doesn’t look wildly different, but it’s different enough that I think it’s worth playing around with some more later. One major difference is that the single strands separate more than is usual with lace knitting, making the yarnovers appear smaller. One thing I like is that it makes it look as if the pattern is full of stylized eyes. (Not creepy eyes, I hope. Anyway, I like them.)

A feature of adding k1‑below is that the stitch grows a little horizontally (while shrinking a little vertically). This can be useful for shaping in some contexts.

Details and charts after the cut.

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.
  • Each of them is a multiple of 4+3 stitches and 4 rows.
simple lace knitting background

Abbreviations:

  • k: knit.
  • k2tog: knit 2 stitches together as if they were 1. (Right-leaning decrease)
  • p: purl.
  • sl2 — k1 — p2sso: slip the next 2 stitches as if to knit 2 together, knit the next stitch, then pass the 2 slipped stitches over the third.
  • ssk: slip each of the next 2 stitches as if to knit, then knit them together through the back loop. (Left-leaning decrease)
  • yo: yarn over.
Char showing how to work Star Rib Mesh by means of special symbols. Written instructions in blog psot

Row 1 (RS): k1, *yo, sl2-k1-p2sso, yo, k1 ; work from *, yo, k2tog.

Rows 2 & 4: purl

Row 3: ssk, *yo, k1, yo, sl2-k1-p2sso; work from *, yo, k1.

And here’s the modified chart:

Étude no.9: a free lace knitting pattern with some k1b stitches
Click chart to enlarge

Notes:

  • Designers, please feel free to use this stitch in your patterns.
  • 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:

  • k1‑below: knit 1 in the stitch below the next stitch; drop the next stitch from the needle.
  • k2tog: knit 2 stitches together as if they were 1. (Right-leaning decrease)
  • p: purl.
  • CDD: slip the next 2 stitches as if to knit 2 together, knit the next stitch, then pass the 2 slipped stitches over the third.
  • ssk: slip each of the next 2 stitches as if to knit, then knit them together through the back loop. (Left-leaning decrease)
  • yo: yarn over.

Row 1 (RS): k1‑below, *yo, CDD, yo, k1‑below; work from *, yo, k2tog.

Rows 2 & 4: purl

Row 3: ssk, *yo, k1‑below, yo, CDD; work from *, yo, k1‑below.

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