Pizazz: a lace knitting stitch pattern

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The word I drew from the words suggested on Patreon for this post is Pizazz, suggested by Kate, a Patreon supporter. I’m extra pleased with the lines of this one. The swoopy outlines remind me of something, but I’m not sure what. Anyway, I think it’s elegant and unusual, which is fitting for the word.

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 Pizazz charted design 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 Pizazz lace. There are lots of holes in some yellow lace knitting making up repeated almost-diamonds with scalloped edges.
Chart showing how to work Pizazz lace by means of special symbols. Written instructions in blog post.

Notes:

  • I only tried this as a half-brick pattern (rows 13-24 are the same as rows 1-12, but slid over by six stitches). However, I suspect that repeating rows 1-12 without the offset might also look good.
  • 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 complicate writing the repeats logically in the text.)
  • Pizazz is a multiple of 12 + 12 stitches and 24 + 12 rows. (end after either row 12 or 24.)
  • I’ve made a stitch map for Pizazz.
  • 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:

  • 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.)
  • DSD: ssk, slip the resulting stitch back to the left needle, pass the next stitch over, then slip the result. Substitute knit 3 together if desired; they are similar but don’t look quite the same. (Right-leaning double decrease.) More information about DSD.
  • k: knit.
  • k2tog: knit 2 stitches together as if they were 1. (Right-leaning decrease)
  • p: purl.
  • sk2p: slip 1, k2tog, pass slipped stitch over. (Left-leaning double decrease.)
  • 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): k1, k2tog, yo × 2, sk2p, *yo × 2, DSD, yo × 2, ssk, k2, k2tog, yo × 2, sk2p; work from *, yo × 2, DSD, yo × 2, ssk, k1. (24 sts)
  • Row 2 (WS): p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, *p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p4, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1, (k1, p1) in double yo; work from *, p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2.
  • Row 3: k2tog, yo, k2, ssk, *yo × 2, k2tog, k2, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k2, ssk; work from *, yo × 2, k2tog, k2, yo, ssk.
  • Row 4: p5, (k1, p1) in double yo, *p10, (k1, p1) in double yo; work from *, p5.
  • Row 5: k1, k2tog, yo × 2, cdd, *yo × 2, cdd, yo × 2, ssk, k2, k2tog, yo × 2, cdd; work from *, yo × 2, cdd, yo × 2, ssk, k1.
  • Row 6: p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, *p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p4, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1, (k1, p1) in double yo; work from *, p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2.
  • Row 7: k3, yo, k2tog, k1, *k1, ssk, yo, k6, yo, k2tog, k1; work from *, k1, ssk, yo, k3.
  • Row 8: purl.
  • Row 9: yo, ssk, k2, yo, ssk, *k2tog, yo, k2, k2tog, yo × 2, ssk, k2, yo, ssk; work from *, k2tog, yo, k2, k2tog, yo.
  • Row 10: p6, *p5, (k1, p1) in double yo, p5; work from *, p6.
  • Row 11: k1, yo, ssk, k3, *k3, k2tog, yo, k2, yo, ssk, k3; work from *, k3, k2tog, yo, k1.
  • Row 12: purl.
  • Row 13: yo, DSD, yo × 2, ssk, k1, *k1, k2tog, yo × 2, sk2p, yo × 2, DSD, yo × 2, ssk, k1; work from *, k1, k2tog, yo × 2, sk2p, yo.
  • Row 14: p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2, *p2, ((k1, p1) in double yo, p1) × 2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2; work from *, p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2.
  • Row 15: yo, k2tog, k2, yo, ssk, *k2tog, yo, k2, ssk, yo × 2, k2tog, k2, yo, ssk; work from *, k2tog, yo, k2, ssk, yo.
  • Row 16: p6, *p5, (k1, p1) in double yo, p5; work from *, p6.
  • Row 17: yo, cdd, yo × 2, ssk, k1, *k1, k2tog, (yo × 2, cdd) × 2, yo × 2, ssk, k1; work from *, k1, k2tog, yo × 2, cdd, yo.
  • Row 18: p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2, *p2, ((k1, p1) in double yo, p1) × 2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2; work from *, p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p2.
  • Row 19: k1, ssk, yo, k3, *k3, yo, k2tog, k2, ssk, yo, k3; work from *, k3, yo, k2tog, k1.
  • Row 20: purl.
  • Row 21: k2tog, yo, k2, k2tog, *yo × 2, ssk, k2, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k2, k2tog; work from *, yo × 2, ssk, k2, yo, ssk.
  • Row 22: p5, (k1, p1) in double yo, *p10, (k1, p1) in double yo; work from *, p5.
  • Row 23: k3, k2tog, yo, k1, *k1, yo, ssk, k6, k2tog, yo, k1; work from *, k1, yo, ssk, k3.
  • Row 24: purl.