Boundary: a lace knitting stitch pattern

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The word I drew from my word hoard for this stitch pattern is Boundary, suggested by Enting, 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 Boundary 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 boundary lace A view from the front . There’s winding designs with kind of an Art Nouveau flavor. Overlapping swoops make almost-hearts with lace patterns inside them.
chart showing how to knit Boundary lace by means of special symbols. Written instructions in blog post.
click chart to enlarge

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.
  • Boundary is a multiple of 8 + 1 stitches and 16 or 16 + 8 rows. (end after either row 8 or 16)
  • The swatch shows rows 1-16, followed by rows 1-8.
  • I’ve made a stitch map for Boundary.
  • Designers, please feel free to use this 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: slip the next 2 stitches as if to knit 2 together, knit the next stitch, then pass the 2 slipped stitches over the third. (Stands for centered double decrease.)
  • k: knit.
  • k2tog: knit 2 stitches together as if they were 1. (Right-leaning decrease)
  • k3tog: knit 3 stitches together as if they were 1. (Right-leaning double 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)
  • sssk: slip each of the next 3 stitches as if to knit, then knit them together through the back loop. (Left-leaning double decrease; substitute sk2p if desired.)
  • 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): p1, *k1, ssk, k1, yo, ssk, yo, k1, p1, k1, yo, k2tog, yo, k1, k2tog, k1, p1; work from *. (17 sts)

Row 2 (WS): *(k1, p7) × 2; work from *, k1.

Row 3: p1, *(k1, ssk, yo) × 2, k1, p1, (k1, yo, k2tog) × 2, k1, p1; work from *.

Row 4: *(k1, p7) × 2; work from *, k1.

Row 5: p1, *k2tog, yo, k3tog, yo × 2, k2, p1, k2, yo × 2, sssk, yo, ssk, p1; work from *.

Row 6: *k1, p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2, k1, p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3; work from *, k1.

Row 7: p1, *k1, k2tog, yo × 2, k2, k2tog, p1, ssk, k2, yo × 2, ssk, k1, p1; work from *.

Row 8: *k1, p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3, k1, p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2; work from *, k1.

Row 9: p1, *k1, ssk, k2tog, (yo, k1) × 2, p1, (k1, yo) × 2, ssk, k2tog, k1, p1; work from *.

Row 10: *(k1, p7) × 2; work from *, k1.

Row 11: p1, *k3, k2tog, yo, k2, p1, k2, yo, ssk, k3, p1; work from *.

Row 12: *(k1, p7) × 2; work from *, k1.

Row 13: p1, *yo, ssk, k5, p1, k5, k2tog, yo, p1; work from *.

Row 14: *(k1, p7) × 2; work from *, k1.

Row 15: p1, *k1, yo, cdd, yo, k1, k2tog, yo, p1, yo, ssk, k1, yo, cdd, yo, k1, p1; work from *.

Row 16: *(k1, p7) × 2; work from *, k1.

Row 17: p1, *k1, yo, k2tog, yo, k1, k2tog, k1, p1, k1, ssk, k1, yo, ssk, yo, k1, p1; work from *.

Row 18: *(k1, p7) × 2; work from *, k1.

Row 19: p1, *(k1, yo, k2tog) × 2, k1, p1, (k1, ssk, yo) × 2, k1, p1; work from *.

Row 20: *(k1, p7) × 2; work from *, k1.

Row 21: p1, *k2, yo × 2, sssk, yo, ssk, p1, k2tog, yo, k3tog, yo × 2, k2, p1; work from *.

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

Row 23: p1, *ssk, k2, yo × 2, ssk, k1, p1, k1, k2tog, yo × 2, k2, k2tog, p1; work from *.

Row 24: *k1, p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2, k1, p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3; work from *, k1.

Row 25: p1, *(k1, yo) × 2, ssk, k2tog, k1, p1, k1, ssk, k2tog, (yo, k1) × 2, p1; work from *.

Row 26: *(k1, p7) × 2; work from *, k1.

Row 27: p1, *k2, yo, ssk, k3, p1, k3, k2tog, yo, k2, p1; work from *.

Row 28: *(k1, p7) × 2; work from *, k1.

Row 29: p1, *k5, k2tog, yo, p1, yo, ssk, k5, p1; work from *.

Row 30: *(k1, p7) × 2; work from *, k1.

Row 31: p1, *yo, ssk, k1, yo, cdd, yo, k1, p1, k1, yo, cdd, yo, k1, k2tog, yo, p1; work from *.

Row 32: *(k1, p7) × 2; work from *, k1.