Exploring Texture I

The characteristics of slipped stitches can be utilized in a number of ways to create patterns. In the swatch below, the pattern elements are formed by the floats created when stitches are slipped.




The bottom section is one of my favorites. Barbara Walker calls this "Slip Stitch Honeycomb". I have also seen it referred to as "Stamen Stitch". Because it is garter based, it makes a thick, cushy fabric with good insulating properties.




All stitches are slipped purlwise. Note that the patterning action is done on Wrong Side (WS) rows, with the yarn carried in back (away from you as you work), which results in the floats appearing on the Right Side of the work. It can be worked on any even number of stitches.

Rows 1 & 3 (RS): Knit.
Row 2: K1, *sl 1 wyib, k1; rep from *, end k1.
Row 4: K2, *sl 1 wyib, k1; rep from*.

The center section of the swatch is sometimes called Half Linen Stitch. Structurally it is almost the same at the honeycomb, but it is worked on a stockinette ground rather than garter. This results in a much flatter, thinner fabric, with a very subtle surface texture. In this case, the patterning action takes place on Right Side rows, with the yarn carried in front. This means that before each slipped stitch, the working yarn is moved between the needle tips toward you; and after each slipped stitch the working yarn is moved back between the needle tips into position to knit the next stitch.





Again, all slipped stitches are slipped purlwise, and the pattern can be worked on any even number of stitches.

Row 1 (RS): K1, *sl 1 wyif, k1; rep from *, end k1.
Rows 2 & 4: Purl.
Row 3: K2, *sl 1 wyif, k1; rep from*.

You could get a different effect by simply repeating Rows 1 and 2. If you do this, the little bars formed by the floats will line up vertically, giving a somewhat ribbed effect.

The top section of the swatch was an experiment.




Here I slipped two stitches with the yarn in front, then knit three on the Right Side and purled back on the Wrong Side. In following rows I shifted the motif one stitch to the left a few times, then shifted to back to the right, and so on. Don't know that I would ever actually use this in a project, but it was fun to play around and see what happened.