Longways: a garter lace knitting stitch pattern

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I’m in the midst of designing a shawl. I was considering making it a garter lace shawl, and I swatched a garter version of Star Rib Panel. In the end, that didn’t work out, but the wrong side of the tweaks I made in the attempt fascinated me. Since I’m not using that stitch pattern for the shawl, here it is, with the former wrong side now the right side.

I named it Longways because it reminds me somehow of the longways folk dances I used to do when I was younger, done in two parallel lines of people.

Please read the notes carefully. This is a straightforward design, but there’s a quirk. (The story of my design life.)

Why I’ve provided two charts for this stitch pattern

This chart looks different from my usual lace charts because all the lace rows are wrong side rows. The design on the interesting side is made of the backs of the decreases combined with yarnovers. The chart key for this stitch pattern explains what knit decrease you need to work when you come to those symbols on the wrong side rows.

This also makes it possible to correctly combine this chart with charts for other stitch patterns — otherwise the right side would be flipped.

If you just want to knit a scarf or something, I’ve included an alternate chart below the written instructions that has the lace rows shown with knit symbols. This won’t require you to flip the symbols over in your head; you’ll just need to flip the knitting over to see the good side.

columns of textured knitted lace with angled lines and V shapes alternate with columns of horizontal ridges of knitting

Notes:

  • The lace stitches are on the wrong side of this garter lace. All stitches are knit, and the decreases are the knit versions. Please see chart key when using charts.
  • I loved this texture, so I didn’t stretch it after washing. I washed it and laid it flat, making sure the corners were square, but not pinning it out.
  • 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.
  • Longways is a multiple of 6 + 3 stitches and 4 rows.
  • I’ve made a stitch map for Longways.
  • 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)
  • RS: right side
  • 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)
  • WS: wrong side
  • 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.

Standard chart

Chart showing how to work longways lace by means of special symbols. Written instructions in blog post.

Written Instructions

Row 1 (RS): knit.

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

Row 3: knit.

Row 4: k2, *k1, yo, sk2p, yo, k2; work from *, k1.

Alternate chart

Chart showing an alternate way to work longways lace by means of special symbols. Written instructions in blog post.

Note: The first row of this chart is a wrong side row; knit it.