Xylem: a needlework chart for any craft

The random number generator picked Xylem from the suggestions for this post, suggested by MLW, one of my Patreon supporters. Given that xylem is channels for transporting water through plants, I like the vertical stripiness of how this came out.

I developed a lace stitch pattern for Xylem, but I also like to provide a basic chart for any craft that’s worked on a grid: beads, cross stitch, whatever. I try to provide at least some digital art of the pattern repeated all over not as a chart. It doesn’t necessarily look like a finished object for any particular craft, but I want to give a sense of it in use. (I try to make it look like knitting when it’s got floats short enough for easy stranded knitting.)

how Xylem needlework might look as stranded knitting
chart showing how to work Xylem needlework by means of dark and light squares. Written instructions for the same result are in blog post.
click chart to enlarge
  • Xylem has a repeat of 20 + 1 columns and 4 + 1 rows.
  • In the written instructions, color A is the light squares above, and color B is the dark.
  • The written instructions below are formatted for stranded knitting, but it is my hope that they could be translated into instructions for other crafts. For instance, if working filet crochet, 1A could be one open square and 2B could be two filled-in squares.
  • Designers, please feel free to use this in your patterns (no need to ask). 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!

Row 1 (RS): work knit as follows; (1A, 1B) × 4, 2A, 1B, 2A, (1B, 1A) × 4. (21 sts)

Row 2 (WS): work purl as follows; 1A, 3B, (1A, 1B) × 6, 1A, 3B, 1A.

Row 3: work knit as follows; 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 2A, 1B, 3A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 2A, 1B, 1A.

Row 4: work purl as follows; 1A, 3B, (1A, 1B) × 6, 1A, 3B, 1A.

repeat rows 1-4 as desired; end with row 5:

Row 5: work knit as follows; (1A, 1B) × 4, 2A, 1B, 2A, (1B, 1A) × 4.