Kitten: a lace knitting stitch pattern

The first word I drew from the words suggested on Patreon this month is Kitten, suggested by Susan C, 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 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 made a Kitten needlework chart for any craft that uses a square grid for designing.

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

knitted sample of Kitten lace

Notes:

  • The bottom half of the swatch is 3 repeats of version 1; the top is one repeat of version 2.
  • These are stitch patterns such as might be found in a stitch dictionary. They are not patterns for a finished object. You will need to add selvedges or some other form of knitted stitches to either side.
  • Kitten version 1 is a multiple of 20 + 1 stitches and 8 rows. Version 2 is a multiple of 20 + 21 stitches and 16 or 16 + 8 rows. (End after either row 8 or 16.) (stitch count corrected 4 April 2022.)
  • I’ve made stitch maps for version 1 and version 2.
  • 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:

  • 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.
  • 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. (Or substitute your favorite 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. Bring the yarn forward between the needles so that it will make a loop over the needle when the next stitch is worked. When there are two in a row, bring the yarn forward, wrap it once around the needle, and leave the yarn in front so it makes a second loop.

Kitten, Version 1

click chart to enlarge

Row 1 (RS): k1, *k2, yo, k2tog × 2, yo, k1, ssk, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k1, yo, ssk × 2, yo, k3; work from *. (21 sts)

Row 2 (WS): purl.

Row 3: k1, *k2, k3tog, yo × 2, k1, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk, k1, yo × 2, sssk, k3; work from *.

Row 4: *p4, (k1, p1) in double yo, p9, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3; work from *, p1.

Row 5: k1, *yo, ssk × 2, yo, k3, yo, k2tog, k1, ssk, yo, k3, yo, k2tog × 2, yo, k1; work from *.

Row 6: purl.

Row 7: k1, *yo, k3tog, yo, k5, yo, cdd, yo, k5, yo, sssk, yo, k1; work from *.

Row 8: purl.

Kitten, Version 2

Chart showing how to knit version 2 of Kitten lace using symbols on a grid. See below for written instructions.
click chart to enlarge

Row 1 (RS): k1, yo, k2tog, k1, yo, k2tog × 2, yo, k2, *k3, yo, ssk × 2, yo, k1, ssk, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k1, yo, k2tog × 2, yo, k2; work from *, k3, yo, ssk × 2, yo, k1, ssk, yo, k1. (41 sts)

Row 2 (WS): purl.

Row 3: k2, yo, ssk, k1, yo × 2, sssk, k2, *k3, k3tog, yo × 2, k1, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk, k1, yo × 2, sssk, k2; work from *, k3, k3tog, yo × 2, k1, k2tog, yo, k2.

Row 4: p5, (k1, p1) in double yo, p4, *p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p9, (k1, p1) in double yo, p4; work from *, p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p5.

Row 5: k1, ssk, yo, k3, yo, k2tog × 2, yo, *k1, yo, ssk × 2, yo, k3, yo, k2tog, k1, ssk, yo, k3, yo, k2tog × 2, yo; work from *, k1, yo, ssk × 2, yo, k3, yo, k2tog, k1.

Row 6: purl.

Row 7: k2tog, yo, k5, yo, sssk, yo, *k1, yo, k3tog, yo, k5, yo, cdd, yo, k5, yo, sssk, yo; work from *, k1, yo, k3tog, yo, k5, yo, ssk.

Row 8: purl.

Row 9: k3, yo, ssk × 2, yo, k1, ssk, yo, *k1, yo, k2tog, k1, yo, k2tog × 2, yo, k5, yo, ssk × 2, yo, k1, ssk, yo; work from *, k1, yo, k2tog, k1, yo, k2tog × 2, yo, k3.

Row 10: purl.

Row 11: k3, k3tog, yo × 2, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, *k2, yo, ssk, k1, yo × 2, sssk, k5, k3tog, yo × 2, k1, k2tog, yo, k1; work from *, k2, yo, ssk, k1, yo × 2, sssk, k3.

Row 12: p4, (k1, p1) in double yo, p5, *p4, (k1, p1) in double yo, p7, (k1, p1) in double yo, p5; work from *, p4, (k1, p1) in double yo, p4.

Row 13: k1, yo, ssk × 2, yo, k3, yo, k2tog, *k1, ssk, yo, k3, yo, k2tog × 2, yo, k1, yo, ssk × 2, yo, k3, yo, k2tog; work from *, k1, ssk, yo, k3, yo, k2tog × 2, yo, k1.

Row 14: purl.

Row 15: k1, yo, k3tog, yo, k5, yo, *cdd, yo, k5, yo, sssk, yo, k1, yo, k3tog, yo, k5, yo; work from *, cdd, yo, k5, yo, sssk, yo, k1.

Row 16: purl.