Étude no. 2 – Stepping Stones (free stitch pattern)

Here is another in my series of posts about design exercises. I’ve been noticing a little arrow motif popping up in my secret code charts:

It intrigued me. I happened to notice it yet again in a grid, this time with rotational symmetry and with a couple of extra squares:

Nifty! I thought. I’ve been wanting to stretch myself with designing asymmetrical patterns (that would admittedly have translational symmetry when repeated). Even though the little chart above has rotational symmetry, I knew that by the time I was done with it, that would be gone. (This is a future étude for me, I think: to design lace with vertical mirror symmetry or rotational symmetry.)

So, I plugged in the yarn overs in my usual way, and added wrong side rest rows with purls where necessary. Then I guessed where to put the decreases. My draft chart follows, from before I’d even started my rough draft swatch for the design. (This one definitely needed one, so far as I was concerned.)

As I knit my rough draft, I worked out the following chart. I wasn’t sure at first if I liked the results, but I think I do. For one thing, I like the way that each diagonal ovally section is completed over three pattern repeats. I think that the decrease lines of this might make a scarf collapse along the bias.

I do regret not managing to put in no-stitch squares to make the pattern match the result more clearly; this one gave me fits and I just had trouble. If there’s interest, I would probably be willing to give it another try for the sake of learning to do better!

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.
• Stepping Stones is a multiple of 5 stitches and 12 rows.
• I’ve made a stitch map for Stepping Stones.
• Instructions updated 8 May 2024.
• Designers, please feel free to use this stitch in your patterns. I’d like credit but won’t be offended if people don’t give it.
• If you like my posts like this, please consider supporting me on Patreon or donating with my Paypal tip jar in the sidebar. Thanks!

Abbreviations:

• active needle: the needle on which new stitches are placed.
• double yo: bring the yarn forward between the needles, wrap it once around the active needle, and leave the yarn in front so it makes a second loop when the next stitch is knit.
• 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)
• 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..

Row 1 (RS): *k1, k2tog, double yo, ssk; work from *.

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

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

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

Row 5: *yo, ssk, double yo, sssk; work from *.

Row 6: *p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2; work from *.

Row 7: *cdd, double yo, k2tog, yo; work from *.

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

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

Row 10: *p3, (k1, p1) in double yo; work from *.

Row 11: *k2tog, double yo, ssk, k1; work from *.

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