Buttercup, a free lace knitting pattern for five-petaled flowers

Posted on by

I’ve done one last set of outtakes from Wilderness. I found a five-petaled flower shape in it, and I haven’t seen many of those out there. I particularly like the way the mini cable makes the space between the petals into a symmetrical star.

Notes:

  • 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.
  • It’s important to note that the stitch count varies between rows. The reason for this is to make all the yarnovers closer to the same size. (Wilderness has a double yarnover there, but since Buttercup isn’t code, I can remove yarnovers as desired.) The pattern is worked over a repeat of 10 stitches.
  • Here is a PDF with printable stitch maps for both charts: Buttercup stitch maps,
  • Designers, please feel free to use these stitches 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:

  • 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)
  • p: purl.
  • LLI: left lifted increase
  • RLI: right lifted increase
  • ssk: slip each of the next 2 stitches as if to knit, then knit them together through the back loop. (Left-leaning decrease)
  • yo: yarnover.

Buttercup border, a free lace knitting pattern for a five petaled flower border

(click to enlarge)

  • Buttercup border is a multiple of 10+10 stitches and 10 rows.
  • I’ve made a stitch map for it.

Buttercup border:
<p><strong>Row 1 (RS)</strong>: K5, *k3, k2tog, yo, ssk, k3; work from *, k5. [one stitch decreased per flower]</p>
<p><strong>Row 2 (WS)</strong>: P5, *p4, (k1, p1) in 1 stitch, p4; work from *, p5. [one stitch increased per flower]</p>
<p><strong>Row 3</strong>: K5, *k1, LLI, (k2tog, yo, ssk) x 2, RLI, k1; work from *, k5.</p>
<p><strong>Row 4</strong>: Purl.</p>
<p><strong>Row 5</strong>: K3, k2tog, yo, *ssk x 2, yo, 1/1 RC, yo, k2tog x 2, yo; work from *, ssk, k3. [one stitch decreased per flower]</p>
<p><strong>Row 6</strong>: P4, *(k1, p1) in 1 stitch, p8; work from *, (k1, p1) in 1 stitch, p4. [one stitch increased per flower]</p>
<p><strong>Row 7</strong>: K1, LLI, k2tog, yo, ssk, *k2tog, yo, ssk, RLI, k2, LLI, k2tog, yo, ssk; work from *, k2tog, yo, ssk, RLI, k1.</p>
<p><strong>Row 8</strong>: Purl.</p>
<p><strong>Row 9</strong>: K2, ssk, yo, 1/1 RC, *yo, k2tog, k4, ssk, yo, 1/1 RC; work from *, yo, k2tog, k2.</p>
<p><strong>Row 10</strong>: Purl.</p>
Buttercup, a free lace knitting pattern for a five petaled flower

  • Buttercup motif is a multiple of 10+10 stitches and 12 rows.
  • I’ve made a stitch map for it.

Buttercup motif:

<p><strong>Row 1 (RS)</strong>: K5, *k3, k2tog, yo, ssk, k3; work from *, k5. [one stitch decreased per flower]</p>
<p><strong>Row 2 (WS)</strong>: P5, *p4, (k1, p1) in 1 stitch, p4; work from *, p5. [one stitch increased per flower]</p>
<p><strong>Row 3</strong>: K5, *k1, LLI, (k2tog, yo, ssk) x 2, RLI, k1; work from *, k5.</p>
<p><strong>Row 4</strong>: Purl.</p>
<p><strong>Row 5</strong>: K5, *k2, ssk, yo, 1/1 RC, yo, k2tog, k2; work from *, k5.</p>
<p><strong>Row 6</strong>: Purl.</p>
<p><strong>Row 7</strong>: K3, k2tog, yo, *ssk, k6, k2tog, yo; work from *, ssk, k3. [one stitch decreased per flower]</p>
<p><strong>Row 8</strong>: P4, *(k1, p1) in 1 stitch, p8; work from *, (k1, p1) in 1 stitch, p4. [one stitch increased per flower]</p>
<p><strong>Row 9</strong>: K1, LLI, k2tog, yo, ssk, *k2tog, yo, ssk, RLI, k2, LLI, k2tog, yo, ssk; work from *, k2tog, yo, ssk, RLI, k1.</p>
<p><strong>Row 10</strong>: Purl.</p>
<p><strong>Row 11</strong>: K2, ssk, yo, 1/1 RC, *yo, k2tog, k4, ssk, yo, 1/1 RC; work from *, yo, k2tog, k2.</p>
<p><strong>Row 12</strong>: Purl.</p>