Xeric: a lace knitting stitch pattern

The first word I drew from the words suggested on Patreon this month is Xeric, suggested by Susan C and Bookwyrm, Patreon supporters. I noticed a while back that the letter X was the only initial letter not yet represented in the words encoded for my blog, and challenged my supporters to suggest words starting with X until the random number generator picked one. And finally, here we are. (There’s a bunch of other good words starting with X in the pool of past suggested words that I call my word hoard; some of them might appear in future too.)

Xeric means characterized by, or adapted to an extremely dry habitat. If you’ve ever encountered the word xeriscaping, it’s from the same Greek root. A good word!

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 Xeric lace
special chart using symbols to show how to knit Xeric lace.
click 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.)
  • Xeric is a multiple of 12 + 12 stitches and 24 or 24 + 12 rows (end after either row 12 or 24). However, I finished the swatch after a row 13 to make a better diamond effect.
  • After knitting the final swatch and looking at the lattice effect, I’ve realized that I think this would be even better if the cable crosses in row 15 were 1/1 LCs instead.
  • I’ve made a stitch map for Xeric.
  • 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 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)
  • 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): k2tog, k1, yo, k2, *1/1 RC, k2, yo, k1, ssk, k2tog, k1, yo, k2; work from *, 1/1 RC, k2, yo, k1, ssk. (24 sts)

Row 2 (WS): purl.

Row 3: k3, yo × 2, k3tog, *sssk, yo × 2, k2, 1/1 RC, k2, yo × 2, k3tog; work from *, sssk, yo × 2, k3.

Row 4: p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1, *p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p6, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1; work from *, p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3.

Row 5: yo, ssk, k1, yo, k1, k2tog, *ssk, k1, yo, k1, k2tog, yo × 2, ssk, k1, yo, k1, k2tog; work from *, ssk, k1, yo, k1, k2tog, yo.

Row 6: purl.

Row 7: k1, yo, ssk, k2, *1/1 RC, k2, k2tog, yo, k2, yo, ssk, k2; work from *, 1/1 RC, k2, k2tog, yo, k1.

Row 8: purl.

Row 9: ssk, yo × 2, ssk, k2tog, *yo × 2, ssk, k2tog, yo × 2, k2tog, ssk, yo × 2, ssk, k2tog; work from *, yo × 2, ssk, k2tog, yo × 2, k2tog.

Row 10: p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, *(p2, (k1, p1) in double yo) × 3; work from *, p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1.

Row 11: k3, yo, ssk, k1, *k1, k2tog, yo, k6, yo, ssk, k1; work from *, k1, k2tog, yo, k3.

Row 12: purl.

Row 13: k3, yo, k1, ssk, *k2tog, k1, yo, k2, 1/1 RC, k2, yo, k1, ssk; work from *, k2tog, k1, yo, k3.

Row 14: purl.

Row 15: sssk, yo × 2, k2, *1/1 RC, k2, yo × 2, k3tog, sssk, yo × 2, k2; work from *, 1/1 RC, k2, yo × 2, k3tog.

Row 16: p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3, *p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3; work from *, p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1.

Row 17: ssk, k1, yo, k1, k2tog, *yo × 2, (ssk, k1, yo, k1, k2tog) × 2; work from *, yo × 2, ssk, k1, yo, k1, k2tog.

Row 18: p5, (k1, p1) in double yo, *p10, (k1, p1) in double yo; work from *, p5.

Row 19: k3, k2tog, yo, k1, *k1, yo, ssk, k2, 1/1 RC, k2, k2tog, yo, k1; work from *, k1, yo, ssk, k3.

Row 20: purl.

Row 21: yo, ssk, k2tog, yo × 2, k2tog, *ssk, (yo × 2, ssk, k2tog) × 2, yo × 2, k2tog; work from *, ssk, yo × 2, ssk, k2tog, yo.

Row 22: p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1, *p1, ((k1, p1) in double yo, p2) × 2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1; work from *, p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3.

Row 23: k1, k2tog, yo, k3, *k3, yo, ssk, k2, k2tog, yo, k3; work from *, k3, yo, ssk, k1.

Row 24: purl.