Donut: a lace knitting stitch pattern

The word I drew from my word hoard for this stitch pattern is donut, suggested by Susanne V., a Patreon supporter.

I picked the base chart for this lace because it looked remarkably like a donut. In the end, I only used the bottom half of it, but the arrangement still has a slightly skewed donut in it! I think this is the only time I’ve ever tried to do this on purpose with one of my code laces. Fortunately, I also really like the results: the wavy, lacy bits between the donuts make me happy.

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 made Donut as a chart for any craft that uses a square grid for designing; this goes in a separate post.

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

photo of knitted sample of Donut Lace
chart showing how to knit Donut lace by means of knitting chart symbols
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.
  • 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.)
  • Donut is a multiple of 20 + 20 stitches and 20 or 20 + 10 rows. (End after either row 10 or row 20).
  • I’ve made a stitch map for Donut.
  • 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.
  • k: knit.
  • k2tog: knit 2 stitches together as if they were 1. (Right-leaning 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)
  • 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): k3, k2tog, k2, 1/1 RC, yo, k1, *k1, yo, 1/1 LC, k2, ssk, k6, k2tog, k2, 1/1 RC, yo, k1; work from *, k1, yo, 1/1 LC, k2, ssk, k3. (40 sts)

Row 2 (WS): purl.

Row 3: k2, k2tog, yo, k1, k2tog, yo, k3, *k3, yo, ssk, k1, yo, ssk, k4, k2tog, yo, k1, k2tog, yo, k3; work from *, k3, yo, ssk, k1, yo, ssk, k2.

Row 4: purl.

Row 5: (k1, k2tog, yo) × 2, k4, *k4, yo, ssk, k1, yo, ssk, k2, k2tog, yo, k1, k2tog, yo, k4; work from *, k4, (yo, ssk, k1) × 2.

Row 6: purl.

Row 7: k1, ssk, yo, k2tog, yo, k5, *k5, yo, ssk, yo, k2tog, k2, ssk, yo, k2tog, yo, k5; work from *, k5, yo, ssk, yo, k2tog, k1.

Row 8: purl.

Row 9: k1, (ssk, yo) × 2, k3, k2tog, *yo × 2, ssk, k3, (yo, k2tog) × 2, k2, (ssk, yo) × 2, k3, k2tog; work from *, yo × 2, ssk, k3, (yo, k2tog) × 2, k1.

Row 10: p9, (k1, p1) in double yo, *p18, (k1, p1) in double yo; work from *, p9.

Row 11: k1, yo, 1/1 LC, k2, ssk, k3, *k3, k2tog, k2, 1/1 RC, yo, k2, yo, 1/1 LC, k2, ssk, k3; work from *, k3, k2tog, k2, 1/1 RC, yo, k1.

Row 12: purl.

Row 13: k3, yo, ssk, k1, yo, ssk, k2, *k2, k2tog, yo, k1, k2tog, yo, k6, yo, ssk, k1, yo, ssk, k2; work from *, k2, k2tog, yo, k1, k2tog, yo, k3.

Row 14: purl.

Row 15: k4, (yo, ssk, k1) × 2, *(k1, k2tog, yo) × 2, k8, (yo, ssk, k1) × 2; work from *, (k1, k2tog, yo) × 2, k4.

Row 16: purl.

Row 17: k5, yo, ssk, yo, k2tog, k1, *k1, ssk, yo, k2tog, yo, k10, yo, ssk, yo, k2tog, k1; work from *, k1, ssk, yo, k2tog, yo, k5.

Row 18: purl.

Row 19: yo, ssk, k3, (yo, k2tog) × 2, k1, *k1, (ssk, yo) × 2, k3, k2tog, yo × 2, ssk, k3, (yo, k2tog) × 2, k1; work from *, k1, (ssk, yo) × 2, k3, k2tog, yo.

Row 20: p10, *p9, (k1, p1) in double yo, p9; work from *, p10.