Hawthorn: a free lace knitting stitch pattern

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The first word I’m encoding for this month is Hawthorn, suggested by Catnach on Patreon. I really like the flowing curves in the vertical band and the way they intersect with each other.

Each month, my Patreon backers have the chance to suggest words for me to encode as knitting stitches. I make two of these into knitting stitches each month: the first is drawn from the collection of new words; the second is drawn from the collection of unused words. A random number generator helps me choose this, and then I get to work, first turning the letters into numbers, then charting the numbers onto grids in various ways. Finally, when I make the chart into lace, I turn the marked squares into yarnovers and work out where to place the corresponding decreases. (I usually make lace; occasionally I make cables instead.) I also made a Hawthorn needlework chart for any craft that uses a square grid for designing.

The charts are not meant in any way to look like the original words; the words are the seeds of my creativity.

Hawthorn: a free lace knitting stitch pattern chart, by Naomi Parkhurst
click chart to enlarge

Notes:

  • This 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.
  • Hawthorn is a multiple of 18 + 18 stitches and 12 rows.
  • The repeats in the charts and the text aren’t in the same places. (The double YOs complicate writing the repeats logically in the text.)
  • I’ve made a stitch map for it.
  • Designers, please feel free to use this design in your patterns (no need to ask). I’d like credit but won’t be offended if people don’t give it. I’d love to see the end result, if you like.
  • My blog posts and free stitch patterns are supported by subscriptions on Patreon or donations to my Paypal tip jar in the sidebar. If you appreciate my work, please consider helping out. Thanks!

Abbreviations:

  • 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): k2tog, yo, ssk, yo x 2, k2tog x 2, yo, k1, *k1, yo, ssk x 2, yo x 2, (k2tog, yo, ssk) x 2, yo x 2, k2tog x 2, yo, k1; work from *, k1, yo, ssk x 2, yo x 2, k2tog, yo, ssk.
Row 2 (WS): p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p4, *p4, (k1, p1) in double yo, p6, (k1, p1) in double yo, p4; work from *, p4, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3.
Row 3: yo, ssk, k3, ssk, yo, k2, *k2, yo, k2tog, k3, k2tog, yo x 2, ssk, k3, ssk, yo, k2; work from *, k2, yo, k2tog, k3, k2tog, yo.
Row 4: p9, *p8, (k1, p1) in double yo, p8; work from *, p9.
Row 5: yo, k1, yo, sssk, k2tog, yo, k3, *k3, yo, ssk, k3tog, yo, k1, yo x 2, k1, yo, sssk, k2tog, yo, k3; work from *, k3, yo, ssk, k3tog, yo, k1, yo.
Row 6: p9, *p8, (k1, p1) in double yo, p8; work from *, p9.
Row 7: k3, yo, ssk, k1, yo, k2tog, k1, *k1, ssk, yo, k1, k2tog, yo, k6, yo, ssk, k1, yo, k2tog, k1; work from *, k1, ssk, yo, k1, k2tog, yo, k3.
Row 8: purl.
Row 9: yo, cdd, k1, yo x 2, ssk, k1, ssk, *yo x 2, k2tog, k1, k2tog, yo x 2, k1, cdd, yo x 2, cdd, k1, yo x 2, ssk, k1, ssk; work from *, yo x 2, k2tog, k1, k2tog, yo x 2, k1, cdd, yo.
Row 10: (p3, (k1, p1) in double yo) x 2, *p3, [(k1, p1) in double yo, p2] x 2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3, (k1, p1) in double yo; work from *, p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3.
Row 11: k5, ssk, yo, k2, *k2, yo, k2tog, k10, ssk, yo, k2; work from *, k2, yo, k2tog, k5.
Row 12: purl.