Tinsel: a needlework chart for any craft

The random number generator picked Tinsel from the suggestions for this post, suggested by Antoinette, one of my Patreon supporters.

I developed a lace knitting stitch pattern for Tinsel, 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 the Tinsel needlework chart might look as stranded knitting
chart showing how to work the Tinsel needlework chart by means of dark and light squares. Written instructions in blog post.
click chart to enlarge
  • Tinsel has a repeat of 6 + 1 columns and 18 + 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, *2A, 1 black, 3A; work from * once. (7 sts)

Row 2 (WS): work purl as follows; *1 black, 5A; work from * once, 1 black.

Row 3: work knit as follows; 1 black, *(1 black, 1A) × 2, 2 black; work from * once.

Row 4: work purl as follows; *(1A, 2 black) × 2; work from * once, 1A.

Row 5: work knit as follows; 1A, *1A, 3 black, 2A; work from * once.

Row 6: work purl as follows; *1A, 1 black, 3A, 1 black; work from * once, 1A.

Row 7: work knit as follows; 1 black, *5A, 1 black; work from * once.

Row 8: work purl as follows; *2 black, (1A, 1 black) × 2; work from * once, 1 black.

Row 9: work knit as follows; 1A, *1A, 3 black, 2A; work from * once.

Row 10: work purl as follows; *(1 black, 1A) × 3; work from * once, 1 black.

Row 11: work knit as follows; 1A, *1A, 3 black, 2A; work from * once.

Row 12: work purl as follows; *2 black, (1A, 1 black) × 2; work from * once, 1 black.

Row 13: work knit as follows; 1 black, *5A, 1 black; work from * once.

Row 14: work purl as follows; *1A, 1 black, 3A, 1 black; work from * once, 1A.

Row 15: work knit as follows; 1A, *1A, 3 black, 2A; work from * once.

Row 16: work purl as follows; *(1A, 2 black) × 2; work from * once, 1A.

Row 17: work knit as follows; 1 black, *(1 black, 1A) × 2, 2 black; work from * once.

Row 18: work purl as follows; *1 black, 5A; work from * once, 1 black.

Row 19: work knit as follows; 1A, *2A, 1 black, 3A; work from * once.