Smile: a lace knitting stitch pattern

The first word I drew from the words suggested on Patreon this month is Smile, suggested by Catnach, a Patreon supporter. This stitch pattern uses All The Double Decreases (I know of five!), plus a variant on the bunny ears decrease. Feel free to substitute double decreases to reduce the number, but in my opinion, this stitch pattern looks best with all five kinds.

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 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.

swatch photo for the lace based on the word Smile
charted instructions for the lace based on the word Smile
Click chart to enlarge

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.
  • Smile is a multiple of 20 + 21 stitches and 12 or 12 + 6 rows (end after either row 6 or 12).
  • I’ve made a stitch map for it.
  • Designers, please feel free to use this 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:

  • bunny ears yarnover: This is a variant on the bunny ears decrease (PDF), with a yarnover added in the middle. It turns three stitches into three stitches. Knit 2 together, but only remove the first stitch from the needle; yarn over, then work ssk with the second and third stitches. The middle stitch of the original three has been knit together with each of its neighbors. Blog post about bunny ears yarnover.
  • CDD: centered double decrease: slip the next 2 stitches as if to knit 2 together, knit the next stitch, then pass the 2 slipped stitches over the third.
  • DSD: double slip decrease: ssk, slip the resulting stitch back to the left needle, pass the next stitch over, then slip the result. Substitute knit 3 together if desired; they are similar but don’t look quite the same. (Right-leaning double decrease.)
  • 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.
  • sk2p: slip 1, k2tog, pass slipped stitch over. (Left-leaning double decrease.)
  • 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): k2, k2tog, yo x 2, k2tog, k3, *bunny ears yarnover, k3, ssk, yo x 2, ssk, k3, k2tog, yo x 2, k2tog, k3; work from *, bunny ears yarnover, k3, ssk, yo x 2, ssk, k2.

Row 2 (WS): p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p6, *(p5, (k1, p1) in double yo) × 2, p6; work from *, p5, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3.

Row 3: k1, k2tog, (k1, yo) × 2, ssk, yo, k3tog, yo, *k1, yo, sssk, yo, k2tog, (yo, k1) × 2, ssk, k1, k2tog, (k1, yo) × 2, ssk, yo, k3tog, yo; work from *, k1, yo, sssk, yo, k2tog, (yo, k1) × 2, ssk, k1.

Row 4: purl.

Row 5: k2tog, k1, yo, k3, yo, sk2p, yo, k1, *k2, yo, DSD, yo, k3, yo, k1, cdd, k1, yo, k3, yo, sk2p, yo, k1; work from *, k2, yo, DSD, yo, k3, yo, k1, ssk.

Row 6: purl.

Row 7: yo, ssk, k3, ssk, yo x 2, ssk, k1, *k2, k2tog, yo x 2, k2tog, k3, bunny ears yarnover, k3, ssk, yo x 2, ssk, k1; work from *, k2, k2tog, yo x 2, k2tog, k3, k2tog, yo. [40 sts]

Row 8: p6, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3, *p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p11, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3; work from *, p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p6. [41 sts]

Row 9: k1, yo, sssk, yo, k2tog, (yo, k1) × 2, ssk, *k1, k2tog, (k1, yo) × 2, ssk, yo, k3tog, yo, k1, yo, sssk, yo, k2tog, (yo, k1) × 2, ssk; work from *, k1, k2tog, (k1, yo) × 2, ssk, yo, k3tog, yo, k1.

Row 10: purl.

Row 11: k2, yo, DSD, yo, k3, yo, k1, *cdd, k1, yo, k3, yo, sk2p, yo, k3, yo, DSD, yo, k3, yo, k1; work from *, cdd, k1, yo, k3, yo, sk2p, yo, k2.

Row 12: purl.