Poppy: a lace knitting stitch pattern

The second word I drew from the words suggested on Patreon last month is Poppy, suggested by Enting, a Patreon supporter. The underlying chart for this popped out at me as being the one to choose, partly because it looked like a flower (as you’ll see in the Poppy needlework chart), partly because it wouldn’t require any really fancy stitches if I stuck to my older design aesthetic, and partly because I just liked the look of it. (Also it’s a good ratio for certain kinds of shawls, since the basic motif is 8 stitches by 16 rows.)

I think it was a really good choice all round!

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.)

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 Poppy lace
Chart showing how to knit Poppy lace by means of special symbols. Written instructions in blog post.
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.
  • 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.)
  • Poppy is a multiple of 8 + 8 stitches and 32 or 32 + 16 rows. (End after either row 16 or 32.)
  • I’ve made a stitch map for Poppy.
  • 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:

  • 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. (Or substitute your favorite left-leaning decrease)
  • 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.

Row 1: k2, k2tog, *yo × 2, ssk, k4, k2tog; work from *, yo × 2, ssk, k2.

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

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

Row 4: purl.

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

Row 6: purl.

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

Row 8: p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, *p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2, (k1, p1) in double yo; work from *, p3.

Row 9: k1, yo, ssk, k1, *k1, k2tog, yo, k2, yo, ssk, k1; work from *, k1, k2tog, yo, k1.

Row 10: purl.

Row 11: yo, ssk, yo, ssk, *k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo × 2, ssk, yo, ssk; work from *, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo.

Row 12: p4, *p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3; work from *, p4.

Row 13: k1, yo, ssk, k1, *k1, k2tog, yo, k2, yo, ssk, k1; work from *, k1, k2tog, yo, k1.

Row 14: purl.

Row 15: k2, yo, ssk, *k2tog, yo, k4, yo, ssk; work from *, k2tog, yo, k2.

Row 16: purl.

Row 17: yo, ssk, k2, *k2, k2tog, yo × 2, ssk, k2; work from *, k2, k2tog, yo.

Row 18: p4, *p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3; work from *, p4.

Row 19: k1, yo, ssk, k1, *k1, k2tog, yo, k2, yo, ssk, k1; work from *, k1, k2tog, yo, k1.

Row 20: purl.

Row 21: k1, yo, k2tog, k1, *k1, ssk, yo, k2, yo, k2tog, k1; work from *, k1, ssk, yo, k1.

Row 22: purl.

Row 23: yo, ssk, ssk, *yo × 2, k2tog, k2tog, yo × 2, ssk, ssk; work from *, yo × 2, k2tog, k2tog, yo.

Row 24: p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, *p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2, (k1, p1) in double yo; work from *, p3.

Row 25: k1, k2tog, yo, k1, *k1, yo, ssk, k2, k2tog, yo, k1; work from *, k1, yo, ssk, k1.

Row 26: purl

Row 27: k2tog, yo, k2tog, *yo × 2, ssk, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k2tog; work from *, yo × 2, ssk, yo, ssk.

Row 28: p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, *p6, (k1, p1) in double yo; work from *, p3.

Row 29: k1, k2tog, yo, k1, *k1, yo, ssk, k2, k2tog, yo, k1; work from *, k1, yo, ssk, k1.

Row 30: purl.

Row 31: k2tog, yo, k2, *k2, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k2; work from *, k2, yo, ssk

Row 32: purl.