Verve: a lace knitting stitch pattern

Posted on by

The second word I drew from the words suggested on Patreon last month is Verve, suggested by Kate, a Patreon supporter.

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 a Verve needlework chart for any craft that uses a square grid for designing.

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 Verve lace; it's kind of like feathers. Written instructions are below.
Chart showing how to knit Verve lace by way of symbols
click chart to enlarge

Notes:

  • The bottom half of the swatch is two repeats of version 1; the top is one and a half repeats of version 2.
  • These are stitch patterns such as might be found in a stitch dictionary. They are not patterns for a finished object. You will need to add selvedges or some other form of knitted stitches to either side.
  • Verve is a multiple of 12 + 13 stitches. Version 1 is a multiple of 12 rows; version 2 is a multiple of either 24 or 24 + 12 rows (end after either row 12 or 24).
  • Note: I messed around with the bind off to make the tops of part of the pattern come to a nice shape at the edge. Details at the bottom of this post.
  • I’ve made stitch maps for Verve, version 1 and Verve, version 2.
  • Designers, please feel free to use these 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:

  • 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)
  • 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): k2, yo, k2, k2tog, *k1, ssk, k2, yo, k3, yo, k2, k2tog; work from *, k1, ssk, k2, yo, k2. (25 sts)

Row 2 (WS): purl.

Row 3: k2tog, yo × 2, k2, k2tog, *k1, ssk, k2, yo × 2, cdd, yo × 2, k2, k2tog; work from *, k1, ssk, k2, yo × 2, ssk.

Row 4: p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p4, *p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p4; work from *, p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1.

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

Row 6: purl.

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

Row 8: purl.

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

Row 10: p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2, *p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p5, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2; work from *, p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3.

Row 11: k1, k2tog, k2, yo, k1, *k2, yo, k2, ssk, k1, k2tog, k2, yo, k1; work from *, k2, yo, k2, ssk, k1.

Row 12: purl.

Work rows 1-12 for version 1; work rows 1-24 for version 2.

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

Row 14: purl.

Row 15: k1, ssk, k2, yo × 2, *cdd, yo × 2, k2, k2tog, k1, ssk, k2, yo × 2; work from *, cdd, yo × 2, k2, k2tog, k1.

Row 16: p4, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1, *(k1, p1) in double yo, p7, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1; work from *, (k1, p1) in double yo, p4.

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

Row 18: purl.

Row 19: k2, yo, ssk, k1, yo, *cdd, yo, k1, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk, k1, yo; work from *, cdd, yo, k1, k2tog, yo, k2.

Row 20: purl.

Row 21: k1, ssk, yo × 2, ssk, k1, *k2, k2tog, yo × 2, k2tog, k1, ssk, yo × 2, ssk, k1; work from *, k2, k2tog, yo × 2, k2tog, k1.

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

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

Row 24: purl.

Bind-off

Note: when it says chain, either ​

  • Use a crochet hook the size of your needle to work two chain stitches, or
  • yarn over, and then pass the previously-worked stitch over the yarnover

Instead of working row 24, bind off mostly using Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off, using this pattern:​

Bind off 5 stitches, *chain 2, bind off 3 together as if knitting 3 together, chain 2, bind off 9 stitches; work from *, chain 2, bind off 3 together as if knitting 3 together, chain 2, bind off 5 stitches.

(these instructions ignore any selvedge stitches, which should also be bound off.)