Yarn on Thursday: Stitch Edition, Week 3

The project: Knitting all the stitches in KnittingOnTheNet.com's Stitch Directory.
The yarn: Anything you want. I'm using a Phentex "Monster Ball of Yarn" (32 oz. 100% acrylic), which won't block, but will give good stitch definition.
The needles: Again, whatever you want that goes with your yarn. I'm using my beloved Lantern Moon size 7s, because they're pretty.
Why this is happening: Because lots of people want to learn new stitches this year!

This week's stitches: Close Checks (#7), Diagonal Rib (#8), Diagonals (#9), Diamond Pattern (#10), Double Basketweave (#11) and Double Seed Stitch/Double Moss Stitch (#12)

First, Close Checks. This is worked over a multiple of six stitches, so that will give me eighteen pattern stitches with six border stitches on each side. Since the pattern repeats over eight rows, three repeats will get us to 24 rows. The principle is the same as Box Stitch, just over more stitches (three) and rows (four). Looks like a big, well-defined box stitch, too.


Things I noticed about this pattern: Reversible, as advertised. As in I was going to show you a shot of the front, but it looks EXACTLY like the back, so what's the point? Does try to pull in a bit width-wise (it's basically a 3x3 rib every four rows), but wouldn't have to be blocked.

Second, Diagonal Rib. Finally, another pattern worked over four stitches! Something actually divisible evenly into 20! This means five border stitches, 20 pattern stitches, five border stitches. It's another pattern that repeats over eight rows, so three repeats will get us to 24 rows here, too.


Things I noticed about this pattern: Reversible, as advertised. The trick seems to be "pay attention to the pattern on the RS; then, whatever stitch is there on the WS, do that again." So, if, on the WS, it looks like there's a purl stitch next (meaning you did a knit stitch on the RS), do a purl stitch.


This pattern tries to bunch in on itself a bit, but can't. And it's a mite strange-looking. I'm not sure what I'd use it for - dishcloths, maybe? It makes an interesting texture. Making Diagonal Ribs in the round could be cool (now trying to imagine the "fun" of matching sleeve and body ribs so everything swirls together up to the neckline - *shudder*).

Third, Diagonals. KnittingOnTheNet.com says this about this pattern:

"A stockinette background with reverse stockinette diagonal ridges make this pattern stitch pop out. The wrong side looks equally nice but the ridges move in the other direction and are larger. The ridges and background can be worked over any number of stitches and each can be wider or more narrow once the principle is understood."

It's an odd one, worked over a "multiple of 8 +6". This means I can have one repeat (for a whopping 14 stitch wide pattern) or two repeats (for an extra-wide 22 stitches). I'm going to go with the 22 stitches, so I can get a feel for what multiple repeats look like. This means four border stitches, 22 pattern stitches, four border stitches.


Things I noticed about this pattern: Well, the notes from KnittingOnTheNet.com are right. This could be done with as many k's and/or p's as you wanted. It acts like a rib, though, and does scrunch in on itself. If you were just looking for texture, you'd want to do it in a fiber that would block flat.


Trying to get a better shot,
so you can see how it pulls in on itself
Fourth, Diamond Pattern. This is a multiple of thirteen. Two multiples (26 stitches) won't work for my blanket strip, so I'm just going to do the pattern over 20 stitches. This means I'll be doing the following (the part beyond the pattern as stated is in bold):

Row 1: k6, p1, k6; k6, p1
Row 2: p1, k1, p5; p5, k1, p1, k1, p5
Row 3: k4, (p1,k1) 2 times, p1, k4; k4, p1, k1, p1
Row 4: (p1, k1) 2 times, p3; p3, (k1, p1) 3 times, k1, p3;
Row 5: k2, (p1, k1) 4 times, p1, k2; k2 (p1, k1) 2 times, p1
Row 6: (p1, k1) 3 times, p1; (p1, k1) 6 times, p1;      (and then the "Repeat Row x" continues as before.)

It's at least a pattern over twelve rows, so two repeats is all I'll need.


Things I noticed about this pattern: Lies somewhat flat, due to all the k1p1-ing, but the stockinette areas really need blocking. It has texture, and design, yet it's easy to figure out by halfway through the first repeat. I ended up not actually looking at the pattern for the last 18 rows, which is always nice, so this would be a great pattern for decoration over a large area - interesting enough, but not tricky; it would also make a nice up-the-center motif on sleeves or the front/back of a sweater.


Back
Fifth, Double Basketweave. Yes, if it's a three-day weekend, there are likely to be extra patterns snuck in. (Don't worry, this won't happen often.) This one is a "multiple of 4 +3", so I'll choose (4x4) +3 = 19 stitches' worth of pattern. I'll set it up as five border stitches, 19 pattern stitches, six border stitches, to keep consistent with keeping the larger number of border stitches at the end of the first RS row of the pattern. Since it's worked over 8 rows, I'll do 3 repeats. Also, since like regular Basketweave, it depends on the k-across rows, I'll do a twenty-fifth row (the k-across), which will leave me with five rows of seed stitch between this and the next pattern.


I really wish it photographed better, it's REALLY pretty.
Things I noticed about this pattern: Like the Diagonal Rib, the trick seems to be "pay attention to the pattern on the RS; then, whatever stitch is there on the WS, do that again." It's not reversible, as you can see from the photo below - in fact, I wouldn't reverse it, ever, since it looks like a garter stitch as done by my three-year-old self. But the front looks very nice!


Finally, Double Moss Stitch aka Double Seed Stitch- except it's the same as Box Stitch, which we've already done in the first week. No need to repeat, but it's nice to have it as a reference both places in the alphabetical list and to know it's one of those patterns with more than one name!

A note on the whole project: Since there are 139 stitch patterns (some are listed under multiple headings), plus 7 different edgings in KnittingOnTheNet.com's Stitch Directory, I'll be trying to do two to three stitches a week, minimum. This should get everyone a goodly number of new stitches by the end of the year, and hopefully get me a blanket. No worries if you "fall behind" or "start late" - this is for fun & education, there isn't *really* a time limit of any sort on it. If you're just discovering this project, this link will take you to the beginning, and this link will pull up all the related entries. Just knit on, and have fun!