Wander: a lace knitting stitch pattern

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The word I drew from the words suggested on Patreon for this post is Wander, suggested by Enting, a Patreon supporter. I’m a lifelong lover of nature hikes, so this word evokes that mood for me.

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 Wander 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 wander lace in blue yarn. The bottom half looks kind of like chevrons or maybe plant leaves on a vertical stop. The top part is ovalish diamonds or flowers on the stalks.
chart showing how to work Wander lace by means of special symbols. Written instructions in blog post.
version 1 is rows 1-10; version 2 is rows 1-20
Click chart to enlarge

Notes:

  • The bottom half of the swatch is two repeats of version 1; the top is rows 1-20 of version 2, followed by rows 1-10 again.
  • These are stitch patterns such as might be found in a stitch dictionary. They are not patterns for a finished object. You will need to add selvedges or some other form of knitted stitches to either side.
  • Wander is a multiple of 12 + 13 stitches. Version 1 is a multiple of 10 row; version 2 is a multiple of 20 + 10 rows (For this lace, end after either row 10 or 20)
  • I’ve made stitch maps for version 1 and version 2.
  • Designers, please feel free to use these 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:

  • CDD: slip the next 2 stitches as if to knit 2 together, knit the next stitch, then pass the 2 slipped stitches over the third. (Stands for centered double decrease.)
  • 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): k3, yo, k2tog, k2, *k1, ssk, yo, k5, yo, k2tog, k2; work from *, k1, ssk, yo, k3. (25 sts)

Row 2 (WS): purl.

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

Row 4: p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2, *(p3, (k1, p1) in double yo) × 2, p2; work from *, p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2.

Row 5: k2tog, yo × 2, k1, cdd, yo, k1, *yo, cdd, k1, yo × 2, cdd, yo × 2, k1, cdd, yo, k1; work from *, yo, cdd, k1, yo × 2, ssk.

Row 6: p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3, *p4, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3; work from *, p4, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1.

Row 7: ssk, yo, k3tog, yo × 2, k2, *k1, yo × 2, sssk, yo, cdd, yo, k3tog, yo × 2, k2; work from *, k1, yo × 2, sssk, yo, k2tog.

Row 8: p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1, *p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p5, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1; work from *, p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3.

Row 9: k2, ssk, yo, k3, *k2, yo, k2tog, k3, ssk, yo, k3; work from *, k2, yo, k2tog, k2.

Row 10: purl.

Repeat rows 1-10 for version 1 of this lace. Repeat rows `1-20 for version 2, ending after either row 10 or row 20.

Row 11: k2, ssk, yo, k3, *k2, yo, k2tog, k3, ssk, yo, k3; work from *, k2, yo, k2tog, k2.

Row 12: purl.

Row 13: k2, ssk, yo × 2, ssk, k1, *k2tog, yo × 2, k2tog, k3, ssk, yo × 2, ssk, k1; work from *, k2tog, yo × 2, k2tog, k2.

Row 14: p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1, *p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p5, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1; work from *, p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3.

Row 15: k1, yo, cdd, k1, yo × 2, cdd, *yo × 2, k1, cdd, yo, k1, yo, cdd, k1, yo × 2, cdd; work from *, yo × 2, k1, cdd, yo, k1.

Row 16: p4, (k1, p1) in double yo, *p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p7, (k1, p1) in double yo; work from *, p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p4.

Row 17: k2, yo × 2, sssk, yo, cdd, *yo, k3tog, yo × 2, k3, yo × 2, sssk, yo, cdd; work from *, yo, k3tog, yo × 2, k2.

Row 18: p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2, *(p3, (k1, p1) in double yo) × 2, p2; work from *, p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2.

Row 19: k3, yo, k2tog, k2, *k1, ssk, yo, k5, yo, k2tog, k2; work from *, k1, ssk, yo, k3.

Row 20: purl.