Fruitbat: a free lace knitting stitch pattern.

As many of you know, each month my Patreon supporters  suggest words for me to encode; I usually choose one randomly and then post the resulting stitch pattern on the first of the month. It’s good fun and I enjoy it. This month, the random number generator pulled up Katherine’s suggestion of fruitbat, which made me rather gleeful. For one thing, I like fruitbats; they’re quite charming. For another, it reminds me of Terry Pratchett and the Century of the Fruitbat.

In any case, while the word itself sounds a little silly to me, the appearance of the stitch pattern has little to do with the sound or meaning of the word it’s based on. And here we are, one lacy stitch pattern that pleases me. (Later today I will post another encoding of the word as a chart usable for many crafts.)

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.
• Fruitbat is a multiple of 10 stitches and 22 rows.
• I’ve made a stitch map for it, and here is a printable PDF.
• 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:

• 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: yarn over.

Row 1: k1, k2tog, yo, ssk, yo, *yo, k2tog, yo, ssk, k2, k2tog, yo, ssk, yo ; work from *, yo, k2tog, yo, ssk, k1.
Row 2: p4, k1, *p9, k1 ; work from *, p5.
Row 3: yo, k2tog, k1, 1/1 LC, *1/1 RC, k1, ssk, yo x 2, k2tog, k1, 1/1 LC ; work from *, 1/1 RC, k1, ssk, yo.
Row 4: p5, *p4, k1, p5 ; work from *, p5.
Row 5: k1, yo, ssk, k1, *1/1 RC, k1, k2tog, yo, k2, yo, ssk, k1 ; work from *, 1/1 RC, k1, k2tog, yo, k1.
Row 6: purl.
Row 7: ssk, yo x 2, ssk, k1, *k1, k2tog, yo x 2, k2tog, ssk, yo x 2, ssk, k1 ; work from *, k1, k2tog, yo x 2, k2tog.
Row 8: p1, k1, p3, *p2, (k1, p3) x 2 ; work from *, p2, k1, p2.
Row 9: k3, yo, ssk, *k2tog, yo, k6, yo, ssk ; work from *, k2tog, yo, k3.
Row 10: purl.
Row 11: k4, *(1/1 RC, k3) x 2 ; work from *, 1/1 RC, k4.
Row 12: purl.
Row 13: ssk, yo x 2, ssk, *1/1 RC, k2tog, yo x 2, k2tog, ssk, yo x 2, ssk ; work from *, 1/1 RC, k2tog, yo x 2, k2tog.
Row 14: p1, k1, p3, *p2, k1, p7 ; work from *, p2, k1, p2.
Row 15: ssk, yo, k1, k2tog, yo, *yo, ssk, k1, yo, k2tog, ssk, yo, k1, k2tog, yo ; work from *, yo, ssk, k1, yo, k2tog.
Row 16: p4, k1, *p9, k1 ; work from *, p5.
Row 17: yo, k1, k3tog, yo, k1, *k1, yo, sssk, k1, yo x 2, k1, k3tog, yo, k1 ; work from *, k1, yo, sssk, k1, yo.
Row 18: p5, *p4, k1, p5 ; work from *, p5.
Row 19: k1, (yo, k2tog) x 2, *(ssk, yo) x 2, k2, (yo, k2tog) x 2 ; work from *, (ssk, yo) x 2, k1.
Row 20: purl.
Row 21: k3, k2tog, yo, *yo, ssk, k6, k2tog, yo ; work from *, yo, ssk, k3.
Row 22: repeat row 2.

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. Thanks! – Naomi

If you like my posts like this, please consider supporting me on Patreon. Thanks!