Shiny: a lace knitting stitch pattern

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

The way I designed this one is a departure from my usual methods in a couple of ways that are exciting to me.

I had come up with a different lace chart for Shiny, but it didn’t really make me happy. Then, after reading Lewis F. Day’s book, Pattern Design, I designed this needlework stitch pattern for Shiny. Day reminded me that pattern drops don’t have to be halfway, and so I slid the middle repeat up and down until I found a location that I like a lot! (Note that I’ve collapsed the two center columns in the needlework chart, but the basic chart is essentially the same.)

I looked at that chart, and thought to myself, ”I bet those dark squares would make a great decrease line,” except that I’ve never had much luck treating the dark squares as decreases for my code lace, so I put yarnovers there and was disappointed with the result. Then I realized that my first thought was correct! Each marked square in the grid was suitable for a decrease location and then all I had to do was figure out where to place the yarnovers. This worked!

After knitting this, I do wonder what this lace would look like if I slid the middle repeat upward by two rows, but I will leave that as an exercise for anyone who’d like to try it. I’m content to have this more-or-less match the needlework chart.

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.

The stitch patterns are not meant in any way to look like the original words; the words are the seeds of my creativity.

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.
• Shiny is a multiple of 12 + 6 stitches and 38 rows. Note: I’ve designed this as a border. However, it should be possible to add another vertical repeat above so that the downward-pointing-bits nest between the upward pointing bits, but you would need to chart this for yourself.
• I’ve made a stitch map for Shiny.
• 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:

• 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): *k7, k2tog, yo × 2, ssk, k1; work from *, k6.

Row 2 (WS): p6, *p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p8; work from *.

Row 3: *k6, k2tog, yo, k2, yo, ssk; work from *, k6.

Row 4: purl.

Row 5: *k6, ssk, yo, k2, yo, k2tog; work from *, k6.

Row 6: purl.

Row 7: *k6, ssk, yo, k2, yo, k2tog; work from *, k6.

Row 8: purl.

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

Row 10: p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2, *p8, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2; work from *.

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

Row 12: purl.

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

Row 14: purl.

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

Row 16: purl.

Row 17: *yo, ssk, k2, k2tog, yo, k1, k2tog, yo × 2, ssk, k1; work from *, yo, ssk, k2, k2tog, yo.

Row 18: p6, *p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p8; work from *.

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

Row 20: purl.

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

Row 22: purl.

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

Row 24: purl.

Row 25: *k1, k2tog, yo × 2, ssk, k2, k2tog, yo × 2, ssk, k1; work from *, k1, k2tog, yo × 2, ssk, k1.

Row 26: p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2, *p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p4, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2; work from *.

Row 27: *k2tog, yo, k2, yo, ssk, k1, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k1; work from *, k2tog, yo, k2, yo, ssk.

Row 28: purl.

Row 29: *ssk, yo, k2, yo, k2tog × 2, yo, k2, yo, ssk; work from *, ssk, yo, k2, yo, k2tog.

Row 30: purl.

Row 31: *k1, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k7; work from *, k1, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k1.

Row 32: purl.

Row 33: *k1, k2tog, yo × 2, ssk, k7; work from *, k1, k2tog, yo × 2, ssk, k1.

Row 34: p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2, *p8, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2; work from *.

Row 35: *k1, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k7; work from *, k1, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k1.

Row 36: purl.

Row 37: *k2tog, yo, k2, yo, ssk, k6; work from *, k2tog, yo, k2, yo, ssk.

Row 38: purl.