Zaftig: a lace knitting stitch pattern

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The first word I drew from the words suggested on Patreon this month is Zaftig, suggested by Kate, a Patreon supporter. It’s a rather tall and skinny stitch pattern for the word, but at least the motifs within it are beautifully round and voluptuous.

Each month, my Patreon backers have the chance to suggest words for me to encode as knitting stitches. I make three of these into knitting stitches each month: the second and third (posted on the first day of the next month) are drawn from the collection of new words; the first is drawn from the collection of unused words. A random number generator helps me choose these, 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 make a chart for any craft that uses a square grid for designing; this goes in a separate post.

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

knitted sample of Zaftig lace
chart depicting how to work Zaftig lace by means of symbols on a grid.
Click chart to enlarge

Notes:

  • The swatch is one and a half repeats of the stitch pattern; it stops after a row 20.
  • 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.
  • Zaftig is a multiple of 10 + 1 stitches and 40 or 40 + 20 rows. (End after either row 20 or 40.)
  • I’ve made a stitch map for zaftig.
  • 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:

  • 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.
  • 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. (Or substitute your favorite 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; substitute sk2p if desired.)
  • yo: yarnover. Bring the yarn forward between the needles so that it will make a loop over the needle when the next stitch is worked. When there are two in a row, bring the yarn forward, wrap it once around the needle, and leave the yarn in front so it makes a second loop.

Row 1 (RS): *P1, k2, ssk, yo, p1, yo, k2tog, k2, repeat from * to last st, p1.

Row 2: K1, *(p4, k1) × 2, repeat from *.

Row 3: *P1, k1, CDD, yo, yo, p1, yo, yo, CDD, k1, repeat from * to last st, p1.

Row 4: K1, *p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, k1, (k1, p1) in double yo, k2, k1, repeat from *.

Row 5: *P1, k2tog, yo, yo, k2tog, repeat from * to last st, p1.

Row 6: K1, *p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1, k1, repeat from *.

Row 7: *P1, k4, repeat from * to last st, p1.

Row 8: K1, *(p4, k1) × 2, repeat from *.

Row 9: *P1, ssk, yo, k2, p1, k2, yo, k2tog, repeat from * to last st, p1.

Row 10: K1, *(p4, k1) × 2, repeat from *.

Row 11: *P1, yo, ssk, k2, p1, k2, k2tog, yo, repeat from * to last st, p1.

Row 12: K1, *(p4, k1) × 2, repeat from *.

Row 13: *P1, k1, yo, sssk, yo, p1, yo, k3tog, yo, k1, repeat from * to last st, p1.

Row 14: K1, *(p4, k1) × 2, repeat from *.

Row 15: *P1, ssk, yo, yo, ssk, p1, k2tog, yo, yo, k2tog, repeat from * to last st, p1.

Row 16: K1, *p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1, k1, repeat from *.

Row 17: *P1, k2, 1/1 RC, p1, 1/1 LC, k2, repeat from * to last st, p1.

Row 18: K1, *(p4, k1) × 2, repeat from *.

Row 19: *P1, k1, k2tog, yo, (k1, p1) in double yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1, repeat from * to last st, p1.

Row 20: K1, *(p4, k1) × 2, repeat from *.

Row 21: *P1, yo, k2tog, k2, p1, k2, ssk, yo, repeat from * to last st, p1.

Row 22: K1, *(p4, k1) × 2, repeat from *.

Row 23: *P1, yo, yo, CDD, (k1, p1) in double yo, k1, CDD, yo, yo, repeat from * to last st, p1.

Row 24: K1, *(k1, p1) in double yo, p2, k1, p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, k1, repeat from *.

Row 25: *P1, k2tog, yo, yo, k2tog, repeat from * to last st, p1.

Row 26: K1, *p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1, k1, repeat from *.

Row 27: *P1, k4, repeat from * to last st, p1.

Row 28: K1, *(p4, k1) × 2, repeat from *.

Row 29: *P1, ssk, yo, k2, p1, k2, yo, k2tog, repeat from * to last st, p1.

Row 30: K1, *(p4, k1) × 2, repeat from *.

Row 31: *P1, k2, k2tog, yo, p1, yo, ssk, k2, repeat from * to last st, p1.

Row 32: K1, *(p4, k1) × 2, repeat from *.

Row 33: *P1, yo, k3tog, yo, (k1, p1) in double yo, k1, yo, sssk, yo, repeat from * to last st, p1.

Row 34: K1, *(p4, k1) × 2, repeat from *.

Row 35: *P1, k2tog, yo, yo, k2tog, p1, ssk, yo, yo, ssk, repeat from * to last st, p1.

Row 36: K1, *p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1, k1, repeat from *.

Row 37: *P1, 1/1 LC, k2, p1, k2, 1/1 RC, repeat from * to last st, p1.

Row 38: K1, *(p4, k1) × 2, repeat from *.

Row 39: *P1, k1, yo, ssk, (k1, p1) in double yo, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, repeat from * to last st, p1.

Row 40: K1, *(p4, k1) × 2, repeat from *.