Inventing a new stitch pattern

The new stitch pattern looks like reverse stocking stitch, but is
the same on both sides and comes out double thickness.

I think I might have invented a new stitch pattern. This is exciting stuff. It was while trying to remember how to do the Chinese Wave pattern that a friend showed me at knitting group. I couldn’t quite remember what she’d said (wine might have been involved on the night), and I tried various combinations of the two stitches that make up the wave pattern: knit and slip stitch purlwise.

One variation that I particularly liked the look of was just ‘knit 1, slip 1 purlwise, repeat to end’, then repeat for next and all following rows. What you end up with is a fabric that looks like reverse stocking stitch but on both sides. Because you’re only using knit stitch the fabric lies flat, without curling up at the edges, while the combination of stranding the working yarn (the yarn you’ve got in your hand and are using to wrap around your needles to make a stitch) and the slipped stitch make a double-thickness fabric. This makes it ideal for blankets, placemats, shawls - anything that you want to stay flat. Best of all, of course, you only work half the stitches - what’s not to love?

Slip the stitch purlwise so that it doesn't twist.

At the moment I’m using up some old acrylic to make a cat blanket (my boyfriend thinks I spoil his cats; he may have a point) and I’m trying out this new stitch pattern. But I think it’s got great potential. It would make a lovely warm shawl, for example, which could be prettied up with a lace border. And if I can figure how to do colourwork with it, I think I could create some tapestry-style pieces that would make lovely cushion covers.

Free pattern

Try out the stitch with this simple free pattern to make a square with a garter stitch border. which can be adapted to create any size project, in any yarn you happen to have lying around - it’s very versatile. A thick cotton could make a surface protector to put a hot pan or teapot on; soft acrylic would make a cosy baby blanket; self-striping or self-patterning yarn could be interesting for a set of placemats. Holding two strands of yarn - maybe in different colours? - would add another dimension.

Taking the work off the needle means
you can see the doubled fabric.
It's stocking stitch on the inside.

Cast on an odd number of stitches; the exact number will depend on what yarn and needles you’re using and what you want to make. A chunky cotton on big needles to make a set of coasters might only need about 11 stitches. A baby blanket in double knit will require something more like 201. You could do a gauge swatch, or you could just cast on what looks to be the right number and then block the finished piece, which is what I did - be warned though, this is a very tight stitch pattern and your piece will shrink. Mine was 50cm at cast on but ended up as 30cm.

I used a standard double knit on 4mm needles and cast on 125 stitches.

Rows 1-4 knit to end
Row 5 k4, *k1, sl1 purlwise, k1, rpt from * to last four sts, k4
Row 6 k2, *sl1 purlwise, k1, sl1 purlwise, rpt from * to last four sts, k4
Rpt rows 5 and 6 until the piece is square
Knit four rows
Cast off
Block if required

If you’re doing small pieces you could experiment with a thinner border - begin and end the piece with three knit rows and each row with three knit stitches, or two knit rows and two knit stitches. Because the knit/slip pattern is very tight and garter stitch is quite loose, the border will take on a ‘frilled’ appearance.

Experimentation needed

I want to experiment a bit more with this. At the moment I’m knitting every slipped stitch and slipping every knitted stitch in the following rows, but what if I knit the knitted stitches and slip the slipped stitches in one following row and then swap them over? Will look any different if I slip the stitches knitwise? Or alternate purlwise and knitwise slipped stitches? Or use purl stitches instead of knit?

I’ve got loads of cheap acrylic left over from when I first taught myself to knit. Now it would seem I’ve got a way to use some of it up. I'd be interested to hear if anyone has seen this stitch pattern before.

Finished cat blanket. I added a blue
stripe because it's for a boy cat.