Query: a lace knitting stitch pattern

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The second word I drew from the words suggested on Patreon last month is Query, suggested by Kate, a Patreon supporter. As a reference librarian, I really like the word query, so I was pleased to play with it.

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 Query 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.

This stitch pattern is a bit of a departure for me, though I don’t know if it’s obvious at first. Usually I focus on decrease lines, but if you look at rows 1-8, columns 6-14, you might see that there’s not continuous decrease lines. That’s because I couldn’t find any that I liked for those yarnovers.

Instead, I went back to a stitch pattern I designed years ago and hadn’t yet published because I had vague thoughts of putting it in a stitch dictionary. That stitch pattern uses the same arrangement of yarnovers; I designed it to make lines of yarnovers at a steeper angle than I usually see. The decreases are placed to make the yarnovers sit in a continuous line.

I feel lucky to have remembered that I did that! I’ll be releasing that stitch pattern next week, because I like it on its own as well as in a larger design.

knitted sample query lace, full view
click chart to enlarge

Notes:

  • The bottom half of the swatch is three repeats of version 1; the top is two 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.
  • Query is a multiple of 18 + 19 stitches. Version 1 is a multiple of 8 rows; version 2 is a multiple of 16 or 16 + 8 rows. (End after either row 8 or 16)
  • I’ve made stitch maps for version 1 and 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): k1, yo, k2tog, k3, k2tog, yo, k2, *k1, yo, ssk, k3, ssk, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k3, k2tog, yo, k2; work from *, k1, yo, ssk, k3, ssk, yo, k1. (37 sts)

Row 2 (WS): purl.

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

Row 4: p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p5, *p6, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p5; work from *, p6, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2.

Row 5: k2tog, yo × 2, k2, cdd, yo, k3, *k2, yo, cdd, k2, yo × 2, cdd, yo × 2, k2, cdd, yo, k3; work from *, k2, yo, cdd, k2, yo × 2, ssk.

Row 6: p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p6, *p7, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p6; work from *, p7, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1.

Row 7: ssk, k3, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k2, *k1, ssk, yo, k1, yo, k3, cdd, k3, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k2; work from *, k1, ssk, yo, k1, yo, k3, k2tog.

Row 8: purl.

Repeats Rows 1-8 for version 1. For version 2, work rows 1-16 as desired, ending after either row 8 or row 16.

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

Row 10: purl.

Row 11: k1, ssk, yo, k2, k2tog, yo × 2, ssk, k1, *k2tog, yo × 2, ssk, k2, yo, k2tog, k1, ssk, yo, k2, k2tog, yo × 2, ssk, k1; work from *, k2tog, yo × 2, ssk, k2, yo, k2tog, k1.

Row 12: p6, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1, *p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p11, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1; work from *, p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p6.

Row 13: k3, yo, cdd, k2, yo × 2, cdd, *yo × 2, k2, cdd, yo, k5, yo, cdd, k2, yo × 2, cdd; work from *, yo × 2, k2, cdd, yo, k3.

Row 14: p7, (k1, p1) in double yo, *p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p13, (k1, p1) in double yo; work from *, p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p7.

Row 15: k2, ssk, yo, k1, yo, k3, cdd, *k3, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k3, ssk, yo, k1, yo, k3, cdd; work from *, k3, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k2.

Row 16: purl.