Iceberg: a free lace knitting stitch pattern

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Every month my backers on Patreon have the chance to suggest a word for me to use as the raw material for creating a new stitch pattern. I turn the letters into numbers, chart the numbers in various ways, and pick the result I think works best for making a knitting chart.

I make two charts: one that takes more added work (either cables or lace), and one that can be used for any craft worked on a grid. (Textured knitting stitch patterns, colorwork, cross stitch, needlepoint, and so on.)

This month’s word is iceberg, suggested by Linda. I converted the word into base 8 numerals and made a wide, narrow chart to turn them into lace.

A knitted sample of Iceberg lace. It's a vertical lace panel. The edges make the illusion of a twisted cable. The center is like a large feather.

chart showing how to knit Iceberg lace by means of special symbols. Written instructions in blog post.
click chart to enlarge

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.
  • A note to help prevent discouragement: the feathery part of the design doesn’t start showing properly until after three vertical repeats of the stitch pattern.
  • Iceberg is a multiple of 29 + 1 stitches and 6 rows.
  • I’ve made a Stitch Map for Iceberg
  • Designers, please feel free to use this stitch pattern in your designs 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:

  • k: knit.
  • k2tog: knit 2 stitches together as if they were 1. (Right-leaning decrease)
  • p: purl.
  • CDD: slip 2 together as if to knit together, knit the next stitch, then pass the slipped stitches over. (centered double decrease.)
  • ssk: slip each of the next 2 stitches as if to knit, then knit them together through the back loop. (Left-leaning decrease)
  • yo: yarn over.

Written Instructions:

Row 1 (RS): p1, *yo, ssk, k5, CDD, yo × 2, k2tog, k1, yo, k2, yo, k1, ssk, yo × 2, CDD, k5, k2tog, yo, p1; work from *. (30 sts)

Row 2 (WS): *k1, (p8, (k1, p1) in double yo) × 2, p8; work from *, k1.

Row 3: p1, *k1, yo, ssk, k3, CDD, yo × 2, CDD, k1, yo × 2, k2, yo × 2, k1, CDD, yo × 2, CDD, k3, k2tog, yo, k1, p1; work from *.

Row 4: *k1, p7, ((k1, p1) in double yo, p2) × 3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p7; work from *, k1.

Row 5: p1, *k2, ssk, k1, yo × 2, ssk, k1, CDD, yo × 2, k1, yo, k2tog, ssk, yo, k1, yo × 2, CDD, k1, k2tog, yo × 2, k1, k2tog, k2, p1; work from *.

Row 6: *k1, p4, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p6, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p4; work from *, k1.