Starry Flowers: a lace knitting stitch pattern

When I designed lace based on the word Relief, the result had multiple motifs in it that I’m going to turn into individual stitch patterns. This is the first one. I like that it has little six-pointed stars in the middle of six-petaled flowers.

There’s one place in the sample where I forgot to put in a cable cross and didn’t notice until I blocked it. It’s not awful, but it demonstrates why I put the cable crosses in!

knitted sample for Starry Flowers
chart showing how to knit Starry Flowers 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.
  • Starry Flowers is a multiple of 12 + 12 stitches and 12 + 6 rows. (End after either row 12 or row 6.) This repeat doesn’t match the repeat for Relief.
  • I’ve made a stitch map for Starry Flowers.
  • 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)
  • 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): k3, k2tog, yo, *1/1 RC, yo, ssk, k6, k2tog, yo; work from *, 1/1 RC, yo, ssk, k3. (24 sts)

Row 2 (WS): purl.

Row 3: k2, k2tog, yo × 2, k2tog, *ssk, yo × 2, ssk, k4, k2tog, yo × 2, k2tog; work from *, ssk, yo × 2, ssk, k2.

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

Row 5: k1, k2tog, k2, yo, *1/1 RC, yo, k2, ssk, k2, k2tog, k2, yo; work from *, 1/1 RC, yo, k2, ssk, k1.

Row 6: purl.

Row 7: k1, yo, ssk, k3, *k3, k2tog, yo, 1/1 RC, yo, ssk, k3; work from *, k3, k2tog, yo, k1.

Row 8: purl.

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

Row 10: p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3, *p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3; work from *, p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1.

Row 11: k1, yo, k2, ssk, k1, *k1, k2tog, k2, yo, 1/1 RC, yo, k2, ssk, k1; work from *, k1, k2tog, k2, yo, k1.

Row 12: purl.