*Updated on March 20, 2017 , specifically Rows 4 & 12 of pattern when working multiple repeats.
The celebration of the Fair Isle has come again…March is the month of St Patrick’s Day! What better way to put us in the true spirit of all things green and magical than to work a stitch that whorls and twists across the pegs? If it looks rather complicated to manage, no worries, because it’s actually a fairly easy stitch to do! The cables are done by simply twisting two peg’s stitches at a time as you work through the rows.
We have changed the format just a little bit for our Stitchology Column. Each of the featured stitches will be explained row by row via both written and video instructions. We will be focusing on highlighting the repeating stitch pattern itself, so that you can enjoy the freedom of putting these new stitch patterns to use in your own projects as creativity strikes. We hope you will enjoy this new way of learning new stitches with us! 🙂
Special Stitch Instructions
To work this pattern in the round, such as for a hat, use the Repeating Pattern Rows chart, and make sure to read it from right to left for each row, rather than alternating sides each time. Also, cast onto your loom in a clockwise direction, using a number of pegs that is divisible by 8—the number of stitches required for each pattern repeat.
For flat pieces of a greater size, simply increase the number of Repeating Pattern Rows inside the garter stitch edges for the length and width required, then complete with the Finishing Rows.
When the pattern uses the term “knit” or “k”, please use the true knit stitch or the u-stitch, not the e-wrap.
The cables in this pattern involve simply trading the loops of 2 pegs in the correct order. They consist of a Right Twist [rt2] (a twist with the sts running to the right), and a Left Twist [lt2] (a twist with the sts running to the left). They are worked as follows:
[rt2]: Worked over 2 pegs: Lift the loop from the peg on the right and either hold in your fingers, or place on a cable needle. Lift the loop on the left and move it to the peg on the right. Place the held loop onto the peg on the left. With the working yarn, knit the 2 pegs.
[lt2]: Worked over 2 pegs: Lift the loop from the peg on the left and either hold in your fingers, or place on a cable needle. Lift the loop on the right and move it to the peg on the left. Place the held loop onto the peg on the right. With the working yarn, knit the 2 pegs.
*An easy way to remember which direction to go is to remember to hold the stitch on the side of the slant. So…for a right twist, hold the loop on the right. For a left twist, hold the loop on the left.
Chart for Repeating Stitch Pattern
*Note: The squares in the chart that are highlighted with yellow are fluctuating stitches, depending on how many repeats of the 8 stitch pattern are being worked. If there is only one set of 8 stitches, these highlighted squares are simply purled. If, however, there is more than one repeat of the 8 stitches, then these squares become the twists, either right or left, that are noted in the chart and instructions below (see Rows 4 & 12).
Repeating Pattern Rows for working as a flat panel (Begin from right to left/clockwise):
Row 1: p1, k2, p5
Row 2: p5, LT2, p1
Row 3: RT2, LT2, p4
Row 4: ***When working Row 4 using only one repeat of the 8 stitches of the pattern, follow these instructions: p3, LT2, p3.
***When working Row 4 using multiple repeats of the 8 stitches of the pattern, follow these directions: p3, LT2, p2, *RT2, p2, LT2, p2, repeat from * to last stitch, p1.
Row 5: p4, LT2, RT2
Row 6: p1, LT2, p5
Row 7: p5, k2, p1
Row 8: Repeat Row 6
Row 9: Repeat Row 7
Row 10: Repeat Row 6
Row 11: p4, RT2, LT2
Row 12: ***When working Row 12 using only one repeat of the 8 stitches of the pattern, follow these instructions: p3, RT2, p3.
***When working Row 12 using multiple repeats of the 8 stitches of the pattern, follow these directions: p3, RT2, p2, *LT2, p2, RT2, p2, repeat from * to last stitch, p1.
Row 13: LT2, RT2, p4
Row 14: p5, LT2, p1
Row 15: Repeat Row 1
Row 16: Repeat Row 2
Repeating Pattern Rows for working in the round (Begin from right to left/clockwise):
Round 1: p1, k2, p5
Round 2: p1, LT2, p5
Round 3: RT2, LT2, p4
Round 4: ***When working Round 4 using only one repeat of the 8 stitches of the pattern, follow these instructions: p3, LT2, p3.
***When working Round 4 using multiple repeats of the 8 stitches of the pattern, follow these directions: p3, LT2, p2, *RT2, p2, LT2, p2, repeat from * to last stitch, p1.
Round 5: p4, LT2, RT2
Round 6: p5, LT2, p1
Round 7: p5, k2, p1
Round 8: Repeat Row 6
Round 9: Repeat Row 7
Round 10: Repeat Row 6
Round 11: p4, RT2, LT2
Round 12: ***When working Round 12 using only one repeat of the 8 stitches of the pattern, follow these instructions: p3, RT2, p3.
***When working Round 12 using multiple repeats of the 8 stitches of the pattern, follow these directions: p3, RT2, p2, *LT2, p2, RT2, p2, repeat from * to last stitch, p1.
Round 13: LT2, RT2, p4
Round 14: p1, LT2, p5
Round 15: Repeat Row 1
Round 16: Repeat Row 2
Have questions or comments? Please feel free to leave a message for Bethany in the comments below.
This is a very cute stitch pattern and I like the new format. Thanks for taking the time to introduce us to differnt stitch patterns and the full instructions. Would the look of the backside be suitable for a scarf? Or better worked in the round as a tube scarf? I am currently working on the barber pole stitch pattern and I cant loom quick enough to try this one!
Hi CindyB! 🙂 I’m so pleased you’ve been liking both the stitches and the new format.
The back of this stitch is pretty cute! It almost looks like mermaid scales, or reversed honeycomb. It would make a nice scarf, in my opinion. 🙂
Bethany~
I had a question on row 4
***When working Row 4 using multiple repeats of the 8 stitches of the pattern, follow these directions: p3, *LT2, p2, RT2, p2, repeat from * to last stitch, end p1
As written, the stitch count is 12 stitches . So if i do two repeats of the stitch pattern, That would be 20 stitches? Rows 1-3 are multiples of 8 so how do i make up the difference of 4 stitches on rows 1-3? Sorry to ask…
Hi Cindy 🙂 Please don’t ever be sorry for asking a question. I’m always happy to help! …and in this case, you actually helped *me*! 😀
Okay…this part is a little bit confusing, so let me see if I can help explain in another way. If you look at the chart for the repeating stitch pattern, you’ll see that in Row 4 the pattern sort of overlaps itself where it actually extends into two extra stitches on each side of the 8 pegs of the pattern. This row, with those stitches in place, actually begins with a right twist. Because the pattern won’t be beginning the row with a peg it doesn’t actually have, this right twist won’t happen yet. You will start the row with 3 purls, just this first time through the repeat. Then you’ll begin working the pattern repeat: LT2, p2, RT2, p2. Where I actually ended up adjusting the pattern was where to put that little ‘ol asterisk. It should be in front of the RT2 so that the repeating pattern will end with the LT2, p2. The corrections are now included in the pattern above.
For your convenience, your instructions all written out for 2 repeats of the pattern would be:
p3, LT2, p2, RT2, p2, LT2, p2, p1. = 16 pegs. 🙂
Thanks for checking in so that we could get this nailed down!
Bethany~
Thank you for the help Bethany. I am starting my scarf tonight.
I am trying to make the squares as we were doing previously on the loom
I went to the Ravelry site and found the pattern with the squares that have symbols for the different stitches
But the rows are different and Rt2 is sometimes LT2 due to the even and odd rows being different?
If I follow your pattern and just add the border 2 rows will it come out ok?
Also is there a way to copy the Ravelry chart enlarged?
I’ve been trying for days to do this
HELP. PLEASE
Thanks
Hi Ginny 🙂
The actual row numbers of the entire square pattern will differ a bit from the Repeating Stitch Pattern, because there have been added additional rows and stitches into the square’s design. Because of this, you won’t use the video to make the square as written. You can learn the stitches through the video, then use the chart’s instructions to work the square correctly. The instructions will generally be the same…it’s just the row numbers that will be different. Also, please see the notes below the video (as well as here in the pattern post), as there were a couple rows that were adjusted. 😉
As for saving the chart from Ravelry, simply click on the chart so that it is featured in the pop-out style, right click on the photo and choose the “Save As” option to save to your computer.
Hope that all helps get you going!
Bethany~
Is there a way to work this pattern so that just the honeycomb framing is a different color? Or you’d need to work it on the double loom using 2 colors and alternate, so that each side was mirrored to get that type of effect? I haven’t even worked it normally, just a random thought.