Promise: a free lace knitting stitch pattern

The first word for this month is Promise, suggested by Catnach on Patreon. For some reason, finding the right layout for this word took a lot more work than usual, but in the end, I’m pleased.

Each month, my Patreon backers have the chance to suggest words for me to encode as knitting stitches. I make two of these into knitting stitches each month: the first is drawn from the collection of new words; the second is drawn from the collection of unused words. A random number generator helps me choose this, and then I get to work, first turning the letters into numbers, then charting the numbers onto grids in various ways. Finally, when I make the chart into lace, I turn the marked squares into yarnovers and work out where to place the corresponding decreases. (I usually make lace; occasionally I make cables instead.) I also make a chart for any craft that uses a square grid for designing; this goes in a separate post.

The charts are not meant in any way to look like the original words; the words are the seeds of my creativity.

Click on chart to enlarge it

Notes:

  • I think I see a couple more spots that might benefit from 1/1 RC crosses. If you see any spots like that, feel free to add them!
  • These are stitch patterns such as might be found in a stitch dictionary. They are not  patterns for finished objects. You will need to add selvedges or some other form of knitted stitches to either side.
  • The repeats in the charts and the text aren’t in the same places. (The double YOs complicate writing the repeats logically in the text.)
  • Promise is a multiple of 14+14 stitches and 14 rows.
  • 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:

  • 1/1 RC: Slip next stitch to cable needle and place at back of work, knit 1, then knit 1 from cable needle.
  • k: knit.
  • k2tog: knit 2 stitches together as if they were 1. (Right-leaning decrease)
  • p: purl.
  • 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): k4, yo, k1, k2tog, *ssk, k1, yo, k3, 1/1 RC, k3, yo, k1, k2tog work from *, ssk, k1, yo, k4. [28 sts]
Row 2 (WS): purl.
Row 3: ssk, yo x 2, k2tog, k1, k2tog, *yo x 2, ssk, k1, (ssk, yo x 2, k2tog) x 2, k1, k2tog work from *, yo x 2, ssk, k1, ssk, yo x 2, k2tog.
Row 4: p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, *p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3, (k1, p1) in double yo work from *, p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1.
Row 5: k1, yo, k1, k2tog x 2, yo, k1, *k1, yo, ssk x 2, k1, yo, k2, yo, k1, k2tog x 2, yo, k1 work from *, k1, yo, ssk x 2, k1, yo, k1.
Row 6: purl.
Row 7: ssk, yo, k2tog, yo, ssk, yo, k1, *k1, yo, k2tog, yo, (ssk, yo, k2tog) x 2, yo, ssk, yo, k1 work from *, k1, yo, k2tog, yo, ssk, yo, k2tog.
Row 8: purl.
Row 9: yo, k1, k2tog, k1, yo, ssk, k1, *k1, k2tog, yo, k1, ssk, k1, yo x 2, k1, k2tog, k1, yo, ssk, k1 work from *, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, ssk, k1, yo.
Row 10: p7, *p6, (k1, p1) in double yo, p6 work from *, p7.
Row 11: k1, k2tog, k2, yo x 2, ssk, *k2tog, yo x 2, k2, ssk, k2, k2tog, k2, yo x 2, ssk work from *, k2tog, yo x 2, k2, ssk, k1.
Row 12: p4, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1, *p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p8, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1 work from *, p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p4.
Row 13: k2tog, k4, yo, *1/1 RC, yo, k4, ssk, k2tog, k4, yo work from *, 1/1 RC, yo, k4, ssk.
Row 14: purl.
Row 15: ssk, k1, yo, k3, *1/1 RC, k3, yo, k1, k2tog, ssk, k1, yo, k3 work from *, 1/1 RC, k3, yo, k1, k2tog.
Row 16: purl.
Row 17: yo, ssk, k1, ssk, yo x 2, k2tog, *ssk, yo x 2, k2tog, k1, k2tog, yo x 2, ssk, k1, ssk, yo x 2, k2tog work from *, ssk, yo x 2, k2tog, k1, k2tog, yo.
Row 18: p4, (k1, p1) in double yo, p21, *p1, [(k1, p1) in double yo, p3] x 2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1 work from *, p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p4.
Row 19: k1, yo, ssk x 2, k1, yo, k1, *k1, yo, k1, k2tog x 2, yo, k2, yo, ssk x 2, k1, yo, k1 work from *, k1, yo, k1, k2tog x 2, yo, k1.
Row 20: purl.
Row 21: k1, yo, k2tog, yo, ssk, yo, k2tog, *ssk, yo, k2tog, yo, ssk, yo, k2, yo, k2tog, yo, ssk, yo, k2tog work from *, ssk, yo, k2tog, yo, ssk, yo, k1.
Row 22: purl.
Row 23: k1, k2tog, yo, k1, ssk, k1, *yo x 2, k1, k2tog, k1, yo, ssk, k2, k2tog, yo, k1, ssk, k1 work from *, yo x 2, k1, k2tog, k1, yo, ssk, k1.
Row 24: p6, (k1, p1) in double yo, *p12, (k1, p1) in double yo work from *, p6.
Row 25: k2tog, yo x 2, k2, ssk, k1, *k1, k2tog, k2, yo x 2, ssk, k2tog, yo x 2, k2, ssk, k1 work from *, k1, k2tog, k2, yo x 2, ssk.
Row 26: p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p4, *p4, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p4 work from *, p4, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1.
Row 27: k1, yo, k4, ssk, *k2tog, k4, yo, 1/1 RC, yo, k4, ssk work from *, k2tog, k4, yo, k1.
Row 28: purl.