Quiet panel: a lace knitting stitch pattern

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The first word I drew from the words suggested on Patreon this month is Quiet, suggested by Kate, a Patreon supporter. This was bound to happen sometime, but I forgot to check my list of past words: I encoded quiet as lace back in spring of 2020 (so it’s no surprise I don’t remember doing so). Here is the previous lace stitch pattern for quiet.

Happily, while I picked a different code grid to turn into lace, they have stitch repeats that might work together; they’re both multiples of 12. I have not knit a combined swatch to see, however.

One thing I like about this one is that it looks like it was deliberately designed to look like three columns of the same pattern, but with the middle dropped by a third. This was pure coincidence (at least in terms of where the yarnovers are), but it’s giving me ideas for a coordinating stitch pattern.

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 an extra Quiet 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 Quiet panel lace
chart showing how to work Quiet lace panel by means of special symbols. Written instructions in blog post.
click chart to enlarge

Notes:

  • This stitch pattern will work best as a panel because of the stockinette borders to each side. It’s a bit large to be repeated across a shawl, though of course you can if you want.
  • 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.
  • Quiet panel is a multiple of 24 stitches and 6 rows.
  • I’ve made a stitch map for Quiet panel.
  • 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:

  • 1/1 LC: Slip next stitch to cable needle and place at front of work, knit 1, then knit 1 from cable needle.
  • 1/1 RC: Slip next stitch to cable needle and place at back of work, knit 1, then knit 1 from cable needle.
  • DSD: ssk, slip the resulting stitch back to the left needle, pass the next stitch over, then slip the result. Substitute knit 3 together if desired; they are similar but don’t look quite the same. (Right-leaning double decrease.) More information about DSD.
  • 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.
  • sk2p: slip 1, k2tog, pass slipped stitch over. (Left-leaning double decrease.)
  • 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): k2, k2tog, yo, k1, 1/1 RC, k1, yo, k1, k3tog, yo × 2, sssk, k1, yo, k1, 1/1 LC, k1, yo, ssk, k2. (24 sts)

Row 2 (WS): p11, (k1, p1) in double yo, p11.

Row 3: k4, k2tog, yo × 2, ssk, yo, k3tog, yo, k2, yo, sssk, yo, k2tog, yo × 2, ssk, k4.

Row 4: p5, (k1, p1) in double yo, p10, (k1, p1) in double yo, p5.

Row 5: k3, k2tog, yo, k2, yo, DSD, yo, k1, 1/1 RC, k1, yo, sk2p, yo, k2, yo, ssk, k3.

Row 6: purl.