So I finished the socks and the scarf. What next?
The Knitting Fool site has a huge quantity of knitting stitch patterns, not to mention other knitting tools. For a stitch pattern junkie like me, it’s absolute heaven. I go there periodically just to browse around and see what catches my fancy. Today, this stitch did:
Heavy worsted on size 8 US (5 mm) needles
Knot Stitch
Cast on a multiple of 3 + 1 stitches.
Row 1: *K1, sl1 purlwise, K1. Pass the slipped stitch over and place it back on the left needle; K1*. Repeat between *s , end K1.
Row 2: Purl.
In worsted weight yarn it creates a rich, springy texture. And as I looked at this, I kept wondering what it would look likes as ribbing - for socks, maybe?
Light worsted on size 7 US (4.5 mm) needles
Knot Stitch Ribbing
Cast on a multiple of 5 + 4 stitches
Row 1: *K1, sl1 purlwise, K1. Pass the slipped stitch over and place it back on the left needle; K1, p2*. Repeat between *s , end K1.
Row 2: P4, *K2, p3*. Repeat between *s.
And then, something else occurred to me - quite in keeping with the way my mind has been wandering the last several days.
Lace weight on size 8 US (5 mm) needles
Lace weight on size 8 US (5 mm) needles
Knot Stitch Eyelets
Cast on a multiple of 5 + 4 stitches
Row 1: *K1, sl1 purlwise, K1. Pass the slipped stitch over and place it back on the left needle; K1, k2tog, yo*. Repeat between *s , end K1.
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: *K1, sl1 purlwise, K1. Pass the slipped stitch over and place it back on the left needle; K1, yo, ssk*. Repeat between *s , end K1.
Row 4: Purl.
The eyelets are a little drunken looking, but they do open up the piece.
I have always been a stitch-pattern fiend - could never have enough books, bookmarks or notes. I would rather buy a stitch pattern treasury than any other kind of knitting book. But today I discovered that a stitch pattern can be a starting point! In and of itself, it may be lovely but it may also be possible to use it in other ways - as lace, as ribbing. What happens if you offset the pattern by one stitch, every other repeat? Do it backwards? I suppose the possibilities aren’t really limitless, but they are certainly more - and more varied! - than I had imagined. This means that every stitch pattern that I know (or can get my little needles on) may have another several hidden within it!
This could be fun :)
It’s also worth noting that the lace weight yarn suddenly, and inexplicably, seems less clumsy today. I have no idea why that might be but it’s certainly welcome :) I expect that something slick like the baby alpaca (or something with a high silk or rayon content) might still be a little awkward, but I believe I’m actually getting somewhere with this…
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I realy love stitch patterns aswell but I have never tried what you are suggesting. Will there be enough hours in the day?
Abi - Sure, there will be plenty of time! I just have to stop eating - and that wouldn’t entirely be a bad thing :)
Yayyyyyyy!!!! Isn’t it amazing what a change of yarn and needle size will do?
What you’re thinking of doing (reversing something, add a stitch, remove a stitch, change it in some small way) makes new stitch patterns and has been done by knitters for a long time! (Read the first sections of Victorian Lace Today)
It’s fun experimenting, isn’t it?
Ev - Yes, great fun!
ahem, *some* of us (calling no names, but noticing a large arrow pointing directly at me) are capable of creating new stitch patterns because we seem incapable of following the directions for what should be an ordinary combination of stitches we have already decided on- well, you could also call it a mistake, but i prefer the creative approach to my lemming-like devotion to what others have thought of-
i like the pattern you showed in the heavy weight yarn- think what a nice cushy hat or scarf the little dulaan babies could enjoy-
stay happy-
Barb - I had that thought too - especially the ribbed version which I think would make nice, snuggly socks for small, cold feet.
How fun! Now I want to get out my stitch pattern books and start experimenting. *hrm*
And lace weight does take a bit of time to get used to, but it’s certainly worth it!
Opal - I’m finding that the process also helps me to see how the stitches work in the first place - you know, why they look like they do and how that affects the resulting fabric.
Very cool!
