Honk: a lace knitting stitch pattern

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As I remarked on Patreon when I drew the word for this post, sometimes my backers suggest evocative, poetic words that I appreciate for their beauty. And sometimes, they’re a little silly, which is great fun as a change of mood. The random number generator seems to have been channeling its Untitled Goose Game this month, because the word I drew from the words suggested on Patreon for this post is Honk, suggested by Kate, a Patreon supporter.

I like the way it came out looking like leaves, fish, or maybe lanterns. I really like the top edge of it. (What is it with the lantern shapes recently? It’s not deliberate.)

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 Honk 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 Honk lace. There are five jagged leaf shapes in alternation; the top edge of the lace has decorative points .
Chart showing how to knit Honk 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.
  • Honk is a multiple of 12 + 13 stitches and 24 + 12 rows (end after either row 12 or 24).
  • I’ve made a stitch map for Honk.
  • 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, yo, k2tog, ssk, k1, yo, k1, *yo, k1, k2tog, ssk, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, ssk, k1, yo, k1; work from *, yo, k1, k2tog, ssk, yo, k1. (25 sts)

Row 2 (WS): purl.

Row 3: k2, DSD, yo × 2, k2, *k1, yo × 2, sk2p, k3, DSD, yo × 2, k2; work from *, k1, yo × 2, sk2p, k2.

Row 4: 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 5: k1, k2tog, yo, k4, *k3, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k4; work from *, k3, yo, ssk, k1.

Row 6: purl.

Row 7: k2tog, yo × 2, ssk, k3, *k2, k2tog, yo × 2, sk2p, yo × 2, ssk, k3; work from *, k2, k2tog, yo × 2, ssk.

Row 8: 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 9: k1, yo, k2, sk2p, yo, k1, *yo, DSD, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, sk2p, yo, k1; work from *, yo, DSD, k2, yo, k1.

Row 10: purl.

Row 11: k1, yo × 2, cdd, ssk, yo, k1, *yo, k2tog, cdd, yo × 2, k1, yo × 2, cdd, ssk, yo, k1; work from *, yo, k2tog, cdd, yo × 2, k1.

Row 12: 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 13: k1, yo, k1, k2tog, ssk, yo, k1, *yo, k2tog, ssk, (k1, yo) × 2, k1, k2tog, ssk, yo, k1; work from *, yo, k2tog, ssk, k1, yo, k1.

Row 14: purl.

Row 15: k2, yo × 2, sk2p, k2, *k1, DSD, yo × 2, k3, yo × 2, sk2p, k2; work from *, k1, DSD, yo × 2, k2.

Row 16: 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 17: k4, yo, ssk, k1, *k2tog, yo, k7, yo, ssk, k1; work from *, k2tog, yo, k4.

Row 18: purl.

Row 19: k3, k2tog, yo × 2, sk2p, *yo × 2, ssk, k5, k2tog, yo × 2, sk2p; work from *, yo × 2, ssk, k3.

Row 20: 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 21: k1, yo, DSD, k2, yo, k1, *yo, k2, sk2p, yo, k1, yo, DSD, k2, yo, k1; work from *, yo, k2, sk2p, yo, k1.

Row 22: purl.

Row 23: k1, yo, k2tog, cdd, yo × 2, k1, *yo × 2, cdd, ssk, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, cdd, yo × 2, k1; work from *, yo × 2, cdd, ssk, yo, k1.

Row 24: 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.