Kelpie lace mesh knitting stitch pattern

When I was finishing my Kelpie hexagon sampler, I realized that there was one row of lace that would make a good mesh to go with the rest of the hexagons. As I was knitting it, I saw that it’s half of Star Rib Mesh.

Other Kelpie lace hexagon posts

• Kelpie lace hexagon 1 (instructions at bottom of linked post)
• Kelpie lace hexagon 2
• Kelpie lace hexagon 3
• Kelpie lace hexagon 4
• Kelpie lace hexagon layout explanation

This mesh is simple enough that I’m certain other knitters must have used it in the past. If you know of an existing name for this mesh, please let me know. The closest I’ve found in a brief search of my stitch dictionaries is that it’s the same as the four-stitch version of Razor Shell described by Barbara Walker in her first Treasury of Knitting Patterns, but with centered double decreases instead of knit three together.

I’ve included two versions of the chart and instructions, The wider one is necessary for use with the Kelpie hexagons, but the narrower one is more simply written and might be better for other purposes. They are the same basic lace, but the row starts in a different spot in the repeat for each one. (Another way to think about this is that Version 1 is the bottom half of Star Rib Mesh and Version 2 is the top.)

Notes:

• Only version 1 is shown in the photo. Version 2 would have plain knit stitches at the edges instead of bold decrease columns.
• Version 1 of mesh can be knit before the setup rows or after finishing any of the Kelpie hexagons.
• 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.
• Kelpie lace mesh version 1 is a multiple of 4 + 5 stitches; Kelpie lace mesh version 2 is a multiple of 4 + 1 stitches. Both of them are a multiple of 2 rows.
• I’ve made stitch maps for Kelpie lace mesh version 1 and Kelpie lace mesh 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 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)
• 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.

Kelpie lace mesh, version 1

Row 1 (RS): ssk, yo, k1, *yo, cdd, yo, k1; work from *, yo, k2tog.

Row 2 (WS): purl.

Kelpie lace mesh, version 2

Row 1 (RS): k1, *yo, cdd, yo, k1; work from *.

Row 2 (WS): purl.