Festive, a free stitch pattern, thanks to my Patreon backers.
Every month, I encode a word suggested by one of my patrons on Patreon. This month’s word was suggested by Katherine: Festive. The color of my swatch might not be particularly bright, but it’s still nice to think of cheerful things in the depths of a grey winter (in this hemisphere, anyway).
I encoded the letters of festive in base 6, charted them as yarnovers on graph paper using several different layout methods, and then noodled around with the different decrease possibilities until I found a lace pattern I liked. I think this one strikes an interesting balance between symmetry and asymmetry.
As always, a chart for any craft that works from a grid is included at the bottom of the post.


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.
- Festive is a multiple of 12+12 stitches and 14 rows.
- I’ve made a stitch map for it.
- Designers, please feel free to use this stitch in your patterns.
- 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:
- 1/1 LC: Slip next stitch to cable needle and place at front of work, knit 1, then knit 1 from cable needle.
- 1/1 RC: Slip next stitch to cable needle and place at back of work, knit 1, then knit 1 from cable needle.
- 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. (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)
- yo: yarnover.
Row 1 (RS): k1, k2tog, yo x 2, ssk, k2, k2tog, yo x 2, ssk, k1, *k1, k2tog, yo x 2, ssk, k2, k2tog, yo x 2, ssk, k1, repeat from *, k1, k2tog, yo x 2, ssk, k2, k2tog, yo x 2, ssk, k1.
Row 2 (WS): P2, k1, p5, k1, p3, *p2, k1, p5, k1, p3, repeat from *, p2, k1, p5, k1, p3.
Row 3: 1/1 RC, k2, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k2, 1/1 LC, *1/1 RC, k2, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k2, 1/1 LC, repeat from *, 1/1 RC, k2, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k2, 1/1 LC.
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: k1, ssk, yo, k2, 1/1 RC, k2, yo, k2tog, *1/1 RC, ssk, yo, k2, 1/1 RC, k2, yo, k2tog, repeat from *, 1/1 RC, ssk, yo, k2, 1/1 RC, k2, yo, k2tog, k1.
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: Yo, ssk, yo, k2, k2tog, ssk, k2, yo, k2tog, yo, *yo, ssk, yo, k2, k2tog, ssk, k2, yo, k2tog, yo, repeat from *, yo, ssk, yo, k2, k2tog, ssk, k2, yo, k2tog, yo.
Row 8: P11, k1, *p11, k1, repeat from *, p12.
Row 9: k1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo x 2, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, *k1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo x 2, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, repeat from *, k1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo x 2, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1.
Row 10: P5, k1, p6, *p5, k1, p6, repeat from *, p5, k1, p6.
Row 11: K2, ssk, k2, yo x 2, k2, k2tog, k2, *k2, ssk, k2, yo x 2, k2, k2tog, k2, repeat from *, k2, ssk, k2, yo x 2, k2, k2tog, k2.
Row 12: P5, k1, p6, *p5, k1, p6, repeat from *, p5, k1, p6.
Row 13: Yo, k2, sssk, yo, k2, yo, k3tog, k2, yo, *yo, k2, sssk, yo, k2, yo, k3tog, k2, yo, repeat from *, yo, k2, sssk, yo, k2, yo, k3tog, k2, yo.
Row 14: P11, k1, *p11, k1, repeat from *, p12.

I’ve written a more complete set of instructions for the Festive needlework chart.
This grid reminded me of fireworks, which seemed apt for something festive. I picked these colors to demonstrate the sort of colorwork that can be done with them, but any colors that work together could be used instead.
If you like my posts like this, please consider supporting me on Patreon. Thanks!
thought you might like to see this
Embroidery patterns turned into music
http://m.fastcodesign.com/3041920/beautiful-embroidery-patterns-translated-into-music
Thank you, that’s very cool! And definitely right up my alley.
This is gorgeous!
Thank you!
You’re welcome! I even checked out your Patreon campaign. (I’m a big fan of Patreon.) Such a cool idea, to make stitch patterns based on “math and words,” as you put it. As a writer – I was going to say “by day,” but, well, that’s inaccurate and so is “by night,” – I am often influenced by so many other things around me, so I totally relate to the way you create your art.
Thanks – it’s all appreciated. I know what you mean about finding inspiration in lots of places; it sometimes seems as if sources for inspiration keep multiplying.
It’s true! Creative thinking seems to beget itself.