Bliss: a lace knitting stitch pattern

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The word I drew from the words suggested on Patreon for this post is bliss, suggested by Rin and Enting, two Patreon supporters. I’m pleased by the kind of swoopy scale effect in this one!

Aside from the double yarnovers, this is one of the more straightforward code laces I’ve designed: all the decreases are single decreases. (And most of the yarnovers are single.)

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 Bliss 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 bliss lace: diamonds outlined by holes and with a larger hole in the middles; there's also scattered eyelets in between the diamonds.
Chart showing how to knit Bliss 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 in the code complicate writing the repeats logically in the text.)
  • Bliss is a multiple of 16 + 16 stitches and 16 + 8 rows. (End after either row 8 or row 16.)
  • I’ve made a stitch map for Bliss.
  • 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:

  • 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): k2, ssk, yo, k2, k2tog, *yo × 2, ssk, k2, yo, k2tog, k4, ssk, yo, k2, k2tog; work from *, yo × 2, ssk, k2, yo, k2tog, k2. (32 sts)

Row 2 (WS): p7, (k1, p1) in double yo, *p14, (k1, p1) in double yo; work from *, p7.

Row 3: k1, k2tog, yo, k2, k2tog, yo, k1, *k1, (yo, ssk, k2) × 2, k2tog, yo, k2, k2tog, yo, k1; work from *, k1, yo, ssk, k2, yo, ssk, k1.

Row 4: purl.

Row 5: (k2tog, yo) × 3, k2, *k2, (yo, ssk) × 3, (k2tog, yo) × 3, k2; work from *, k2, (yo, ssk) × 3.

Row 6: purl.

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

Row 8: p7, (k1, p1) in double yo, *p14, (k1, p1) in double yo; work from *, p7.

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

Row 10: p8, *p7, (k1, p1) in double yo, p7; work from *, p8.

Row 11: k1, yo, ssk, k2, yo, ssk, k1, *k1, (k2tog, yo, k2) × 2, yo, ssk, k2, yo, ssk, k1; work from *, k1, k2tog, yo, k2, k2tog, yo, k1.

Row 12: purl.

Row 13: k2, (yo, ssk) × 3, *(k2tog, yo) × 3, k4, (yo, ssk) × 3; work from *, (k2tog, yo) × 3, k2.

Row 14: purl.

Row 15: yo, ssk, k1, (yo, ssk) × 2, k1, *k1, (k2tog, yo) × 2, k1, k2tog, yo × 2, ssk, k1, (yo, ssk) × 2, k1; work from *, k1, (k2tog, yo) × 2, k1, k2tog, yo.

Row 16: p8, *p7, (k1, p1) in double yo, p7; work from *, p8.