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Stitches

Every preview is drawn from the stitch , at the true proportions of a . What you see is what you will knit.

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Yarn color

basics

Stockinette

Jersey · Punto jersey

The foundation of everything: neat columns of Vs on the right side. It curls at the edges, hence or borders.

1 sts
2 rows
Level
Beginner
Width
same as stockinette
21

basics

Garter stitch

Point mousse · Punto bobo

Every row knit when . Even ridges, identical on both sides, that never curl.

1 sts
2 rows
Level
Beginner
Width
same as stockinette
21

ribbing

2×2 rib

Côtes 2/2 · Elástico 2×2

Two knit stitches, two purl stitches. Stretchy, ideal for cuffs, sweater hems and hats.

4 sts + 2
1 row
Level
Beginner
Width
-20 %
21

texture

Seed stitch

Point de riz · Punto arroz

Knit and purl alternated, shifted every row. A flat, pebbly texture, perfect for borders and collars.

2 sts + 1
2 rows
Level
Beginner
Width
2 %
21

cable

4-stitch right cable

Torsade 4 mailles vers la droite · Ocho de 4 puntos a la derecha

Two stitches go to the back, two to the front: the cable turns to the right. Worked on a background so it stands out.

6 sts + 2
6 rows
Level
Easy
Width
-15 %
654321
  • 2/2 right cross : Slip 2 sts to cable needle, hold in back; k2; then k2 from cable needle.

lace

Staggered eyelets

Œillets en quinconce · Calados al tresbolillo

A followed by two stitches together: a small hole, with no change in stitch count. Offset every four rows.

6 sts
4 rows
Level
Easy
Width
5 %
4321

colorwork

Diamond peerie

Petit losange (peerie) · Rombo pequeño (peerie)

A small two-color motif, never more than 5 stitches of . Knit .

6 sts
7 rows
Level
Intermediate
Width
-5 %
Longest
5 stitches · no catching needed
7654321

ribbing

1×1 rib

Côtes 1/1 · Elástico 1×1

Knit one, purl one. The finest, stretchiest : cuffs, collars, sock tops.

2 sts + 1
1 row
Level
Beginner
Width
-25 %
21

ribbing

Twisted 1×1 rib

Côtes torses 1/1 · Elástico retorcido 1×1

1×1 rib with the knit stitch : each column becomes a crisp little cord. Very smart on collars and cuffs.

2 sts + 1
1 row
Level
Easy
Width
-25 %
21

texture

Double seed stitch

Double point de riz · Punto arroz doble

Like , but shifted every two rows: a small raised checkerboard, flat and reversible.

2 sts
4 rows
Level
Beginner
Width
2 %
4321

texture

Checkerboard

Damier · Damero

Alternating squares of and . Simple, graphic, and it does not curl.

6 sts
6 rows
Level
Beginner
Width
same as stockinette
654321

texture

Basketweave

Point de vannerie · Punto cesta

Offset blocks of knit and purl that look like a woven basket. Perfect for a blanket or a throw.

8 sts
8 rows
Level
Beginner
Width
same as stockinette
87654321

cable

6-stitch left cable

Torsade 6 mailles vers la gauche · Ocho de 6 puntos a la izquierda

Three stitches go in front, three behind: a wide rope leaning left, crossed every eight rows. Paired with its right-leaning twin, it makes a symmetrical braid.

8 sts + 2
8 rows
Level
Easy
Width
-18 %
87654321
  • 3/3 left cross : Slip 3 sts to cable needle, hold in front; k3; then k3 from cable needle.

lace

Old shale

Vagues (old shale) · Ondas (old shale)

The Shetland classic: six flanked by make the edge ripple into scallops. Only one lace row in four, easy to memorize.

18 sts
4 rows
Level
Easy
Width
5 %
4321

colorwork

Two-color check

Petit damier (jacquard) · Damero pequeño (jacquard)

The ideal first motif: two colors alternating every two stitches, with very short . Knit .

4 sts
4 rows
Level
Easy
Width
-5 %
Longest
2 stitches · no catching needed
4321

colorwork

Selbu star

Étoile de Selbu · Estrella de Selbu

The eight-pointed star of Norwegian Selbu mittens, in two bold colors. Watch the 5-stitch : on larger pieces.

10 sts
9 rows
Level
Intermediate
Width
-5 %
Longest
5 stitches · no catching needed
987654321

basics

Reverse stockinette

Jersey envers · Jersey revés

Stockinette seen from the back: little ripples. The ideal background to make stand out.

1 sts
2 rows
Level
Beginner
Width
same as stockinette
21

texture

Broken rib

Côtes cassées · Elástico roto

One row of 1×1 , one row purled: a flat, rustic, very easy texture.

2 sts + 1
2 rows
Level
Beginner
Width
-3 %
21

texture

Waffle stitch

Gaufre · Punto gofre

Raised cells like a waffle: two knit, one purl, then a purl row to close each cell.

3 sts + 1
4 rows
Level
Beginner
Width
-5 %
4321

texture

Diamond brocade

Losanges en relief · Rombos en relieve

Diamonds drawn in stitches on stockinette: texture without a cable needle.

8 sts + 1
8 rows
Level
Easy
Width
same as stockinette
87654321

texture

Scattered bobbles

Semis de nopes · Bodoques sembrados

Staggered on stockinette: little raised berries to scatter on a yoke or a sleeve.

6 sts
8 rows
Level
Intermediate
Width
same as stockinette
87654321
  • Bobble : (k1, yo, k1, yo, k1) all in the same stitch: 5 sts; turn, p5; turn, k5; turn, p5; turn, sl2, k3tog, pass the 2 slipped sts over: 1 st remains.

texture

Bobble column

Colonne de nopes · Columna de bodoques

A every six rows in a knit column on a purl background: a string of beads to place either side of a motif.

5 sts
6 rows
Level
Intermediate
Width
same as stockinette
654321
  • Bobble : (k1, yo, k1, yo, k1) all in the same stitch: 5 sts; turn, p5; turn, k5; turn, p5; turn, sl2, k3tog, pass the 2 slipped sts over: 1 st remains.

cable

4-stitch left cable

Torsade 4 mailles vers la gauche · Ocho de 4 puntos a la izquierda

The twin of the right cable: two stitches pass in front and the cable turns left. Mirrored, the pair frames a motif nicely.

8 sts
6 rows
Level
Easy
Width
-15 %
654321
  • 2/2 left cross : Slip 2 sts to cable needle, hold in front; k2; then k2 from cable needle.

cable

Mock cable rib

Côtes croisées · Elástico cruzado

2×2 ribbing whose two knit stitches cross every fourth row: the look of a cable, no cable needle needed.

4 sts + 2
4 rows
Level
Easy
Width
-15 %
4321
  • 1/1 right cross : Slip 1 st to cable needle, hold in back; k1; then k1 from cable needle.

cable

Braid cable

Tresse · Trenza

Three strands passing over one another like a plait: cross right, then left, shifting by three stitches.

13 sts
8 rows
Level
Intermediate
Width
-15 %
87654321
  • 3/3 right cross : Slip 3 sts to cable needle, hold in back; k3; then k3 from cable needle.
  • 3/3 left cross : Slip 3 sts to cable needle, hold in front; k3; then k3 from cable needle.

cable

Honeycomb cable

Nid d’abeille · Panal de abeja

Right and left meeting every fourth row: raised cells, very dense and warm.

8 sts
8 rows
Level
Intermediate
Width
-15 %
87654321
  • 2/2 left cross : Slip 2 sts to cable needle, hold in front; k2; then k2 from cable needle.
  • 2/2 right cross : Slip 2 sts to cable needle, hold in back; k2; then k2 from cable needle.

cable

XO cable

Torsade XO · Ocho XO

Two cables that part and close again: alternating Os and Xs up the panel, a signature of Aran sweaters.

12 sts
16 rows
Level
Intermediate
Width
-12 %
16151413121110987654321
  • 2/2 left cross : Slip 2 sts to cable needle, hold in front; k2; then k2 from cable needle.
  • 2/2 right cross : Slip 2 sts to cable needle, hold in back; k2; then k2 from cable needle.

cable

Aran diamond

Losange d’Aran · Rombo de Arán

Two 2-stitch strands traveling on a background, parting, then meeting and crossing: a diamond. Purl crosses move the stitches one step on every right-side row.

12 sts
10 rows
Level
Intermediate
Width
-10 %
10987654321
  • 2/2 right cross : Slip 2 sts to cable needle, hold in back; k2; then k2 from cable needle.
  • 2/1 right purl cross : Slip 1 st to cable needle, hold in back; k2; then p1 from cable needle.
  • 2/1 left purl cross : Slip 2 sts to cable needle, hold in front; p1; then k2 from cable needle.

cable

Traveling zigzag

Zigzag voyageur · Zigzag viajero

A single 2-stitch strand snaking over a purl background, one step on every right-side row: the basis of free-flowing lines on a yoke or a front.

8 sts
12 rows
Level
Intermediate
Width
-5 %
121110987654321
  • 2/1 right purl cross : Slip 1 st to cable needle, hold in back; k2; then p1 from cable needle.
  • 2/1 left purl cross : Slip 2 sts to cable needle, hold in front; p1; then k2 from cable needle.

cable

Wheat ear cable

Épi de blé · Espiga de trigo

Two small mirrored cables, left and right: chevrons climbing like an ear of wheat. Alone or in sheaves, they make stems and wheat fields.

10 sts
4 rows
Level
Easy
Width
-12 %
4321
  • 2/1 right cross : Slip 1 st to cable needle, hold in back; k2; then k1 from cable needle.
  • 2/1 left cross : Slip 2 sts to cable needle, hold in front; k1; then k2 from cable needle.

lace

Horseshoe lace

Fer à cheval · Herradura calada

A Shetland lace classic: two either side of a draw little horseshoes. Wrong-side rows are purled.

10 sts + 1
8 rows
Level
Intermediate
Width
3 %
87654321

lace

Eyelet rib

Côtes ajourées · Elástico calado

Ribs with a little column of : light and stretchy, perfect for a tank or a summer top.

5 sts + 2
4 rows
Level
Easy
Width
-5 %
4321

lace

Arrowhead lace

Pointes de flèche · Puntas de flecha

drawing closer row after row up to a : little openwork arrows.

8 sts + 1
6 rows
Level
Easy
Width
2 %
654321