Relief: a lace knitting stitch pattern

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The word I drew from the words suggested on Patreon for this post is Relief, suggested by Kate, a Patreon supporter.

Each month, my Patreon backers have the chance to suggest words for me to encode as knitting stitches. A random number generator helps me choose which word I will encode from 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 Relief 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 relief lace
chart showing how to work Relief 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.
  • The repeats in the charts and the text aren’t in the same places. (The double YOs complicate writing the repeats logically in the text.)
  • Relief is a multiple of 18 + 18 stitches and 24 + 12 rows. (End after either row 24 or row 12.)
  • I’ve made a stitch map for Relief.
  • After finishing everything, I found one slight improvement to suggest: in rows 7 and 19, change the two knitted stitches between a pair of single yarnovers into a 1/1 RC. I’m not going to reknit the sample, so I’m not changing the instructions and chart . This modification can be seen in Starry Flowers, an excerpt from this stitch pattern.
  • 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 RC: Slip next stitch to cable needle and place at back of work, knit 1, then knit 1 from cable needle.
  • 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): k4, ssk, yo, k3, *k3, yo, k2tog, k8, ssk, yo, k3; work from *, k3, yo, k2tog, k4. (36 sts)

Row 2 (WS): purl.

Row 3: k2, k3tog, yo × 2, k4, *k4, yo × 2, sssk, k4, k3tog, yo × 2, k4; work from *, k4, yo × 2, sssk, k2.

Row 4: p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p4, *p4, (k1, p1) in double yo, p6, (k1, p1) in double yo, p4; work from *, p4, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3.

Row 5: k3tog, yo × 2, k6, *k6, yo × 2, sssk, k3tog, yo × 2, k6; work from *, k6, yo × 2, sssk.

Row 6: p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p6, *p6, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p6; work from *, p6, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1.

Row 7: k2, k2tog, yo × 2, k2tog × 2, yo, k1, *k1, yo, ssk × 2, yo × 2, ssk, k1, 1/1 RC, k1, k2tog, yo × 2, k2tog × 2, yo, k1; work from *, k1, yo, ssk × 2, yo × 2, ssk, k2.

Row 8: p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p4, *p4, (k1, p1) in double yo, p6, (k1, p1) in double yo, p4; work from *, p4, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3.

Row 9: yo, ssk, k3, k2tog, yo × 2, k2tog, *ssk, (yo × 2, ssk, k3, k2tog) × 2, yo × 2, k2tog; work from *, ssk, yo × 2, ssk, k3, k2tog, yo.

Row 10: p6, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1, *p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p12, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1; work from *, p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p6.

Row 11: k4, k2tog, k2, yo, *1/1 RC, yo, k2, ssk, k8, k2tog, k2, yo; work from *, 1/1 RC, yo, k2, ssk, k4.

Row 12: purl.

Row 13: k3, yo, k2tog, k4, *k4, ssk, yo, k6, yo, k2tog, k4; work from *, k4, ssk, yo, k3.

Row 14: purl.

Row 15: k4, yo × 2, sssk, k2, *k2, k3tog, yo × 2, k8, yo × 2, sssk, k2; work from *, k2, k3tog, yo × 2, k4.

Row 16: p4, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3, *p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p8, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3; work from *, p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p4.

Row 17: k6, yo × 2, sssk, *k3tog, yo × 2, k12, yo × 2, sssk; work from *, k3tog, yo × 2, k6.

Row 18: p6, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1, *p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p12, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1; work from *, p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p6.

Row 19: k1, yo, ssk × 2, yo × 2, ssk, k1, *1/1 RC, k1, k2tog, yo × 2, k2tog × 2, yo, k2, yo, ssk × 2, yo × 2, ssk, k1; work from *, 1/1 RC, k1, k2tog, yo × 2, k2tog × 2, yo, k1.

Row 20: p4, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3, *p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p8, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3; work from *, p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p4.

Row 21: ssk, yo × 2, ssk, k3, k2tog, *yo × 2, ssk, k3, k2tog, yo × 2, k2tog, ssk, yo × 2, ssk, k3, k2tog; work from *, yo × 2, ssk, k3, k2tog, yo × 2, k2tog.

Row 22: p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p5, (k1, p1) in double yo, *p5, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p5, (k1, p1) in double yo; work from *, p5, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1.

Row 23: k1, yo, k2, ssk, k4, *k4, k2tog, k2, yo, 1/1 RC, yo, k2, ssk, k4; work from *, k4, k2tog, k2, yo, k1.

Row 24: purl.