Persist: a free lace knitting stitch pattern
I published two stitch patterns for the word Resist a couple of weeks ago, and today I’ve done the same for Persist. I converted the letters of Persist into numbers, and then used those numbers to make a lace chart. There is also a chart for stranded knitting at the end of the post.
The result isn’t exactly secret code, nor is it necessarily meant to be recognized by other people as a sign of your political affiliations. But if you want to make something you can wear unobtrusively as a reminder to yourself, this is a stitch pattern for you.
Notes:
- This is a stitch pattern such as might be found in a stitch dictionary. It is not a pattern for a finished object.
- Persist is a multiple of 16 stitches and 12 rows.
- I’ve made a stitch map for it.
- The triple YOs in row 1 are there for code reasons. I recommend actually working them as double YOs, and then working (p1, yo, p1) in each double YO on row 2. The large holes will still be a triple increase.
- I designed it to flow nicely from row 20 of Resist. If you do this, work k3tog and sssk in row 1 the first time through Persist.
- 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 this stitch pattern, please donate to the SPLC, the ACLU, or whichever of the many civil rights organizations working to help people you prefer.
Abbreviations:
- 1/1 RC: Slip next stitch to cable needle and place at back of work, knit 1, then knit 1 from cable needle.
- CDD: centered double decrease: slip the next 2 stitches as if to knit 2 together, knit the next stitch, then pass the 2 slipped stitches over the third.
- 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): *k2, cdd, yo x 3, k2tog, 1/1 RC, ssk, yo x 3, cdd, k2; work from *.
Row 2 (WS): *p3, (p1, yo, p1) in triple yo, p4, (p1, yo, p1) in triple yo, p3; work from *.
Row 3: *k1, k2tog, yo, k2, yo, k1, k2tog, ssk, k1, yo, k2, yo, ssk, k1; work from *.
Row 4: purl.
Row 5: *yo, k2tog, k2, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo x 2, ssk, k2tog, yo, k2, ssk, yo; work from *.
Row 6: p1, *p6, (k1, p1) in double yo; work from *, end p7.
Row 7: *k1, yo, ssk, k1, yo, k3tog, yo, k2, yo, sssk, yo, k1, k2tog, yo, k1; work from *.
Row 8: purl.
Row 9: *k2, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k4, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k2; work from *.
Row 10: purl.
Row 11: *k3, k2tog, k1, yo, k4, yo, k1, ssk, k3; work from *.
Row 12: purl.
I used the same encoding process that I did for the Resist lace; scroll to the bottom of that page. It’s the same process with different numbers and a different size rectangle. Persist in base 8 is 20 05 22 23 11 23 24.
Here is a chart for Persist for colorwork and other crafts that fits in the same number of stitches as the Resist colorwork chart:
It is encoded in exactly the same method as the Resist colorwork chart; it also has very long strands, unfortunately. Persist in base 7 is 22 05 24 25 12 25 26.
Forward together, not one step back.
Your patterns are fantastically beautiful and I LOVE your numerically/grammatically coded way of coming up with them!!! I’m a beginning knitter just itching to try some of these out!
Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy knitting them as much as I do.
Hi Naomi, I love knitting your patterns! I didn’t see any sssk in this pattern, but it’s mentioned in the abbreviations, just making sure that there’s no sssk in the pattern itself? Thanks.
I found the sssk!
Oh, good, I’m glad you worked it out!