Train tracks: a knitting stitch pattern

I’ve been making a series of stitch patterns using the Bunny Ears Yarnover I unvented. I’m sharing all of them, even the ones I don’t like as much, to demonstrate that it’s okay to make things you don’t think are perfect. I’ve learned things from all of the swatches I’ve knit so far using the technique, and someone might like the ones I don’t. (After all, we all have different taste.)

The first few I liked quite a bit. This one doesn’t excite me, but it’s fine. Furthermore, it might look great combined with other stitch patterns. One thing I do like about this one is structural: it’s not ribbing, but it acts enough like ribbing that I think it wouldn’t curl.

Another thing I like is that it would be very easy to adjust the width of the repeat by adding or subtracting knit stitches between the bunny ears yarnovers.

Posts in this series of stitch patterns based on Bunny Ears Yarnover

photo of knitted sample of Train Tracks, showing vertical lines of holes with a slight braided effect to each side.

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.
  • Train tracks is a multiple of 5 stitches and 2 rows.
  • I’ve made a stitch map for it.
  • Designers, please feel free to use this in your patterns. I’d like credit but won’t be offended if people don’t give it.
  • 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:

  • BEY (bunny ears yarnover): This is a variant on the bunny ears decrease, with a yarnover added in the middle. It turns three stitches into three stitches. Knit 2 together, but only remove the first stitch from the needle; yarn over; then work ssk with the second and third stitches. The middle stitch of the original three has been knit together with each of its neighbors. Blog post about bunny ears yarnover.
  • k: knit.
  • p: purl.
  • p1b: purl one below. For this stitch pattern, it’s not quite the same as a regular p1b, because it’s actually purling the bar below a yarnover, but the action is much the same. From behind, pick up the bar below the yarnover with the right needle and place it on the left needle next to the yarnover; purl both those strands at the same time. This prevents the bar from making a horizontal line in front of the yarnover.

Row 1 (RS): *k1, BEY, k1; work from *.

Row 2 (WS): *p2, p1b, p2; work from *.