Waving Ribbons: a lace knitting stitch pattern

When I designed the lace for Relief, I was struck by several of the motifs to be found in it. Last week I excerpted Starry Flowers lace from it, and this week I’ve made this stitch pattern based on a different motif, which I’ve called Waving Ribbons because I think it looks like dangling ribbons waving around in the breeze.

It’s been a while since I added reverse stockinette contrast areas to some lace, aside from a single purl column to make ribbing. This seemed like a good candidate for it — I think it helps emphasize the texture.

Notes:

• The swatch is three repeats wide and one and a half repeats tall.
• 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.
• I blocked this lightly to help preserve the surface texture, rather than pinning it out. I washed the sample, then threaded blocking wires through the edges to straighten them, but I didn’t stretch the lace out with pins. This was enough!
• Waving Ribbons is a multiple of 8 + 1 stitches and 20 + 10 rows. (end after either row 10 or row 20)
  If you need it to be a different stitch repeat, please feel free to add extra purl columns between the lace ribs.
• I’ve made a stitch map for Waving Ribbons.
• 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 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.
• 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, *k4, k2tog, yo, p2; work from *.

Row 2 (WS): *k3, p5; work from *, k1.

Row 3: p1, *k2, k3tog, yo × 2, p3; work from *.

Row 4: *k3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3; work from *, k1.

Row 5: p1, *k3tog, yo × 2, k1, p4; work from *.

Row 6: *k4, p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1; work from *, k1.

Row 7: p1, *k3, yo × 2, sssk, p2; work from *.

Row 8: *k2, p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3; work from *, k1.

Row 9: p1, *1/1 LPC, k3, yo, ssk, p1; work from *.

Row 10: *k1, p6, k1; work from *, k1.

Row 11: p1, *p1, yo, ssk, k4, p1; work from *.

Row 12: *k1, p5, k2; work from *, k1.

Row 13: p1, *p2, yo × 2, sssk, k2, p1; work from *.

Row 14: *k1, p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, k2; work from *, k1.

Row 15: p1, *p3, k1, yo × 2, sssk, p1; work from *.

Row 16: *k1, p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1, k3; work from *, k1.

Row 17: p1, *p1, k3tog, yo × 2, k3, p1; work from *.

Row 18: *k1, p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1, k1; work from *, k1.

Row 19: p1, *k2tog, yo, k3, 1/1 RPC, p1; work from *.

Row 20: *k2, p6; work from *, k1.