Atlas: a lace knitting stitch pattern

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

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 an Atlas 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.

Photo of knitted sample of Atlas lace in yellow yarn. The top and bottom edges are wavy. The lace makes vertical panels of twining cables and branching lace.
Chart showing how to work Atlas 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.)
  • Atlas is a multiple of 16 + 16 stitches and 8 rows.
  • I made a stitch map for Atlas 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:

  • 1/1 RC: Slip next stitch to cable needle and place at back of work, knit 1, then knit 1 from cable needle.
  • active needle: the needle on which new stitches are placed.
  • double yo: bring the yarn forward between the needles, wrap it once around the active needle, and leave the yarn in front so it makes a second loop when the next stitch is knit.
  • k: knit.
  • k1-tbl: knit 1 through the back loop/leg to twist it.
  • (k1, p1) in double yo: knit 1 in the double yarnover without removing it from the needle. Purl 1 in the same stitch. At this point, slip the double yarnover off the needle entirely. The first loop of the double yarnover can be slipped off at any point in the process.
  • 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.

Row 1 (RS): k2, k1‑tbl, k2tog, yo, k1‑tbl, k2, *k2, k1‑tbl, yo, ssk, k1‑tbl, k4, k1‑tbl, k2tog, yo, k1‑tbl, k2; work from *, k2, k1‑tbl, yo, ssk, k1‑tbl, k2. (32 sts)

Row 2 (WS): purl.

Row 3: yo, k2tog × 2, yo, k2tog, double yo, ssk, *k2tog, double yo, ssk, yo, ssk × 2, double yo, k2tog × 2, yo, k2tog, double yo, ssk; work from *, k2tog, double yo, ssk, yo, ssk × 2, yo.

Row 4: p5, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1, *p1, ((k1, p1) in double yo, p4) × 2, (k1, p1) in double yo, p1; work from *, p1, (k1, p1) in double yo, p5.

Row 5: k1‑tbl, k1, (ssk, yo) × 2, k1‑tbl, *1/1 RC, k1‑tbl, (yo, k2tog) × 2, k4, (ssk, yo) × 2, k1‑tbl; work from *, 1/1 RC, k1‑tbl, (yo, k2tog) × 2, k1, k1‑tbl.

Row 6: purl.

Row 7: k1, k2tog, yo, k1‑tbl, ssk, yo, k2tog, *double yo, ssk, yo, k2tog, k1‑tbl, yo, ssk, k2, k2tog, yo, k1‑tbl, ssk, yo, k2tog; work from *, double yo, ssk, yo, k2tog, k1‑tbl, yo, ssk, k1.

Row 8: p7, (k1, p1) in double yo, *p14, (k1, p1) in double yo; work from *, p7.