Song: a lace knitting stitch pattern

The first word I drew from the words suggested on Patreon this month is song, suggested by Catnach, a Patreon supporter.

Each month, my Patreon backers have the chance to suggest words for me to encode as knitting stitches. I make three of these into knitting stitches each month: the second and third (posted on the first day of the next month) are drawn from the collection of new words; the first is drawn from the collection of unused words. A random number generator helps me choose these, 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 chosen 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 stitch patterns are not meant in any way to look like the original words; the words are the seeds of my creativity.

lace sample for Song: a lace knitting stitch pattern, by Naomi Parkhurst
chart for Song: a lace knitting stitch pattern, by Naomi Parkhurst
click chart to enlarge

Notes:

  • The mini-cables are optional, especially the one on row 8 (a wrong-side row). But I think they make the pattern look better. (They make the point at the top of those large tear drop shapes; if they weren’t there, the lines would spread apart instead.)
  • 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.
  • 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.)
  • Song is a multiple of 12 + 12 stitches and 8 rows.
  • I’ve made a stitch map for it.
  • Designers, please feel free to use these in your patterns. I’d like credit but won’t be offended if people don’t give it.
  • My blog posts and free stitch patterns are supported by subscriptions on Patreon or donations to my Paypal tip jar in the sidebar. If you appreciate my work, please consider helping out. Thanks!

Abbreviations:

  • 1/1 RC:
    right side: slip next stitch to cable needle and place at far side of work, knit 1, then knit 1 from cable needle.
    wrong side: slip next stitch to cable needle and place at far side of work, purl 1, then purl 1 from cable needle.
  • k: knit.
  • k2tog: knit 2 stitches together as if they were 1. (Right-leaning decrease)
  • k3tog: knit 3 stitches together as if they were 1. (Right-leaning double 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)
  • sssk: slip each of the next 3 stitches as if to knit, then knit them together through the back loop. (Left-leaning double decrease; substitute sk2p if desired.)
  • yo: yarnover

Row 1 (RS): yo, ssk, yo, k2, ssk, *k2tog, k2, yo, k2tog, yo × 2, ssk, yo, k2, ssk; work from *, k2tog, k2, yo, k2tog, yo.

Row 2 (WS): p7, *p4, (k1, p1) in double yo, p6; work from *, p5.

Row 3: k1, ssk, k1, yo, k1, *1/1 RC, k1, yo, k1, k2tog, k2, ssk, k1, yo, k1; work from *, 1/1 RC, k1, yo, k1, k2tog, k1.

Row 4: purl.

Row 5: k1, ssk, yo, k1, k2tog, *yo × 2, ssk, k1, yo, k2tog, k2, ssk, yo, k1, k2tog; work from *, yo × 2, ssk, k1, yo, k2tog, k1.

Row 6: p5, (k1, p1) in double yo, *p10, (k1, p1) in double yo; work from *, p5.

Row 7: k2tog, yo, k3tog, yo, k1, *yo × 2, k1, yo, sssk, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k3tog, yo, k1; work from *, yo × 2, k1, yo, sssk, yo, ssk.

Row 8: p5, (k1, p1) in double yo, *p4, 1/1 RC, p4, (k1, p1) in double yo; work from *, p5.