Gourd: a lace knitting stitch pattern

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The word I drew from the words suggested on Patreon for this post is Gourd, suggested by Rin, a Patreon supporter.

There are ways in which I think of my decrease lines as being like traveling cables knit with 1/1 cable crosses, except almost always without the 1/1 cables. I decided to emphasize that similarity in this lace, which is why most of the background of this design is worked in reverse stockinette. (That is, plain knitting with the purl side on the right side of the fabric.)

In the end, I think this design might work best as a single horizontal band, though I was curious how it would look repeated. I like the zigzag decrease lines with the loops at the tops and bottoms of each point; it reminds me of an soutache braid pattern I’ve seen on formal coats. (I found a Threads article about how to use soutache, showing a similar pattern, but more densely packed.)

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 Gourd 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 Gourd lace. Strong zigzags going up and down with almond shapes at the points. There are lacey holes in between the zigzags.
Chart showing how to knit Gourd 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 complicate writing the repeats logically in the text.)
  • Gourd lace is a multiple of 6 + 6 stitches and 24 rows.
  • I’ve made a stitch map for Gourd lace.
  • 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.
  • k1-tbl: knit 1 through the back loop to twist the stitch.
  • 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, ssk, *yo × 2, k2tog, p2, ssk; work from *, yo × 2, k2tog, p1.

Row 2 (WS): k1, p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, *p1, k2, p1, (k1, p1) in double yo; work from *, p1, k1.

Row 3: p1, k2, *k2, p2, k2; work from *, k2, p1.

Row 4: k1, p2, *p2, k2, p2; work from *, p2, k1.

Row 5: p1, yo, ssk, *k2tog, yo, p2, yo, ssk; work from *, k2tog, yo, p1.

Row 6: k1, p2, *p2, k2, p2; work from *, p2, k1.

Row 7: p1, yo, k2tog, *ssk, yo, p2, yo, k2tog; work from *, ssk, yo, p1.

Row 8: k1, p2, *p2, k2, p2; work from *, p2, k1.

Row 9: p1, k2tog, *yo × 2, ssk, p2, k2tog; work from *, yo × 2, ssk, p1.

Row 10: k1, p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, *p1, k2, p1, (k1, p1) in double yo; work from *, p1, k1.

Row 11: p1, k1‑tbl, p1, *p1, k1‑tbl, p2, k1‑tbl, p1; work from *, p1, k1‑tbl, p1.

Row 12: k1, p2, *p2, k2, p2; work from *, p2, k1.

Row 13: k2tog, p1, *yo × 2, p1, ssk, k2tog, p1; work from *, yo × 2, p1, ssk.

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

Row 15: k1, p2, *p2, k2, p2; work from *, p2, k1.

Row 16: p1, k2, *k2, p2, k2; work from *, k2, p1.

Row 17: ssk, yo, p1, *p1, yo, k2tog, ssk, yo, p1; work from *, p1, yo, k2tog.

Row 18: p2, k1, *k1, p4, k1; work from *, k1, p2.

Row 19: yo, sssk, *yo × 2, k3tog, yo × 2, sssk; work from *, yo × 2, k3tog, yo.

Row 20: p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, *(p1, (k1, p1) in double yo) × 2; work from *, p2.

Row 21: k1, ssk, *yo × 2, k2tog, k2, ssk; work from *, yo × 2, k2tog, k1.

Row 22: p2, (k1, p1) in double yo, *p4, (k1, p1) in double yo; work from *, p2.

Row 23: k2tog, yo, k1, *k1, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k1; work from *, k1, yo, ssk.

Row 24: purl.