Banana: a lace knitting stitch pattern

The word I drew from my word hoard for this stitch pattern is banana, suggested by Naomi E, a Patreon supporter. I’m extremely pleased with this one, though it took me a long time to settle on a chart to use. I thought this one would be more angular and less curvy than it ended up being, so it’s a pleasant surprise!

Please see the abbreviations for some specific guidance on working the double decreases over the double yarnovers.

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 Banana 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 Banana Lace
chart showing how to work Banana lace by means of special symbols. Written instructions in blog post.
click to enlarge

Notes:

  • This is a stitch pattern such as might be found in a stitch dictionary. It is not patterns for a finished object. You will need to add selvedges or some other form of knitted stitches to either side.
  • Banana is a multiple of 10 stitches and 12 or 12 + 6 rows. (End after either row 6 or 12.)
  • I’ve made a stitch map for Banana.
  • 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:

  • 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)
    For the k3togs worked over a double yarnover, I recommend the following: k1, slip that stitch back to left needle, and pass the next two stitches over it. Then slip 1.
  • 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.)
    When working this over double yarnovers, I recommend working a sl2-k1-psso over instead:
    slip each of the next 2 stitches as if to knit, knit the third stitch, then pass the slipped stitches over the new stitch.
  • 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 (RS): *k4, ssk, yo × 2, k3tog, yo, k1; work from *.

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

Row 3: *k3, k2tog, yo × 2, k3tog, yo, k2tog, yo; work from *.

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

Row 5: *yo, ssk, k2tog, yo × 2, k3tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k1; work from *.

Row 6: *p5, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3; work from *.

Row 7: *k1, yo, sssk, yo × 2, k2tog, k4; work from *.

Row 8: *p5, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3; work from *.

Row 9: *yo, ssk, yo, sssk, yo × 2, ssk, k3; work from *.

Row 10: *p4, (k1, p1) in double yo, p4; work from *.

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

Row 12: *p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p5; work from *.