Kind: a lace knitting stitch pattern

The word I drew from the words suggested on Patreon for this post is Kind, suggested by Tantebeth, a Patreon supporter.

Each month, my Patreon backers have the chance to suggest words for me to encode as knitting stitches. A random number generator helps me choose which word I will encode from 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 Kind 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 Kind lace. The bottom half is columns of lacy chevrons; the top is vaguely-diamond-shaped motifs that are kind of like gingko leaves.

Notes:

  • The bottom half of the swatch is three repeats of version 1; the top is one and a half repeats 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.
  • 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.)
  • Kind is a multiple of 16 + 16 stitches . Version 1 is a multiple of 8 rows; version 2 is a multiple of 16 + 8 rows. (end after either row 8 or row 16.)
  • The decreases in the first row are different between versions 1 & 2, to help make them flow.
  • The bottom edge (for both versions) wants to be this kind of straight edge with bites taken out; I put pins at the ends of the decrease lines for clean points.
  • 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: slip the next 2 stitches as if to knit 2 together, knit the next stitch, then pass the 2 slipped stitches over the third. (Stands for centered double decrease.)
  • 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.

Kind, version 1

chart showing how to knit Kind lace version 1 by means of special symbols; written instructions in blog post.
click chart to enlarge

Row 1 (RS): k3, k2tog, k2, yo, k1, *k1, yo, k2, ssk, k6, k2tog, k2, yo, k1; work from *, k1, yo, k2, ssk, k3. (32 sts)

Row 2 (WS): purl.

Row 3: k2, cdd, yo × 2, k1, k2tog, *yo × 2, ssk, k1, yo × 2, cdd, k4, cdd, yo × 2, k1, k2tog; work from *, yo × 2, ssk, k1, yo × 2, cdd, k2.

Row 4: p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, *p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p6, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2, (k1, p1) in double yo; work from *, p2, k1, p4.

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

Row 6: purl.

Row 7: yo, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k1, yo, k1, *k1, yo, k1, ssk, k2, ssk, yo × 2, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k1, yo, k1; work from *, k1, yo, k1, ssk, k2, ssk, yo.

Row 8: p8, *p7, (k1, p1) in double yo, p7; work from *, p8.

Kind, version 2

chart showing how to knit Kind lace version 2 by means of special symbols; written instructions in blog post.
click chart to enlarge

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

Row 2 (WS): purl.

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

Row 4: p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3, *p3, ((k1, p1) in double yo, p2) × 2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3; work from *, p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3.

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

Row 6: purl.

Row 7: k1, yo, k1, ssk, k2, ssk, *yo × 2, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k1, yo, k2, yo, k1, ssk, k2, ssk; work from *, yo × 2, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k1, yo, k1.

Row 8: p7, (k1, p1) in double yo, *p14, (k1, p1) in double yo; work from *, p7.

Row 9: k3, ssk, k2, yo, k1, *k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k6, ssk, k2, yo, k1; work from *, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k3.

Row 10: purl.

Row 11: k2, cdd, yo × 2, k1, k2tog, *yo × 2, ssk, k1, yo × 2, cdd, k4, cdd, yo × 2, k1, k2tog; work from *, yo × 2, ssk, k1, yo × 2, cdd, k2.

Row 12: p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, *p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p6, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2, (k1, p1) in double yo; work from *, p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3.

Row 13: k1, k2tog, yo, k2, k2tog, yo, k1, *k1, (yo, ssk, k2) × 2, k2tog, yo, k2, k2tog, yo, k1; work from *, k1, yo, ssk, k2, yo, ssk, k1.

Row 14: purl.

Row 15: yo, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k1, yo, k1, *k1, yo, k1, ssk, k2, ssk, yo × 2, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k1, yo, k1; work from *, k1, yo, k1, ssk, k2, ssk, yo.

Row 16: p8, *p7, (k1, p1) in double yo, p7; work from *, p8.

Repeat as desired; end after either row 8 or row 16.