Herringbone Stitch

Sample knit with Araucania Azapa on US Size 11 needles

This weeks stitch was requested by one of my YouTube friends.

If you like this stitch, try the Little Herringbone Stitch.

Here is a video for knitting this stitch in the round. 

There are a number of stitches named herringbone.  Some look like the one above, some do not.  

I used the Twice Knit Knitting method to do this weeks stitch, and the instructions below are also in Barbara Walker's Second Treasury as I have them below.  She calls it Double Stockinette or Little Herringbone stitch.

This particular method creates a very dense fabric, so you should use a larger needle than called for on your ball band.  Even a lighter weight yarn will yield a fairly dense fabric when knit with larger needles.

Cast on any number of stitches

Row 1: K2tog through the back loop - drop only the first stitch from the left needle, the second stitch should remain on left needle.  Knit next two stitches through the back loop, dropping only the first stitch from left needle as before.  Continue working in this manner to last stitch, Knit one as normal.

Row 2: P2tog, dropping only the first stitch from left needle.  Purl next two stitches together, dropping only first stitch as before.  Continue working in this manner to last stitch, Purl one as normal.

Repeat these two rows.

And here is the video:

I've had some questions on picking up dropped stitches with this particular stitch, so here is a video that I hope will answer any questions folks may have:

Zig Zag or Chevron Stitch

                               This sample knit as per pattern below, in Lily Sugar n Cream Cotton Yarn on US Size 6 needles

This sample was knit in Lily Sugar n Cream on US Size 9 needles, all in garter sitch

This sample was knit in Lily Sugar n Cream on US Size 10 needles, and I used a YO instead of  KFB to increase

This stitch pattern was requested by one of my YouTube friends!  Before I get into the details, I want to share a short story about this stitch pattern with you.  Back when I first began knitting, I came across this particular stitch, I think on a website.  The picture of the stitch did not show the points at the bottom of the fabric, just the middle of the sample.  I did not know the stitch would cause the fabric to come to points, and so as I was knitting my scarf, and the points were forming, I was a little concerned but not much.  I figured that I could block it into shape! (I don't know why I thought the fabric was not supposed to do this, but I did.) I was using a cheap acrylic yarn, and of course blocking did not help.  So I decided to iron it instead.  No matter how hard I tried, I could not get rid of those points!  I did do a pretty good job of completely flattening the yarn though.  I never wore the scarf, and am not even sure what ever happened to it.  At some later time, I came across this stitch pattern again, where someone did show the points in their picture, and I felt like a complete idiot.  So, just incase you, dear knitter, are not aware that this stitch pattern will produce lovely points on your fabric, I have made sure that the points are included in the sample pictures above.

Now.  Here are the details.  The instructions below will give you fabric that looks like the first picture, with the black and white yarn.   You certainly are not limited to only two colors, or to switching colors after Row 4.  Feel free to use as many or few colors as you like, and switch them as often as you like.  

You may also see this stitch pattern named Afghan Stitch - there are a number of variations on this stitch pattern.  Whatever you call it, or whatever particular method you use, you will end up with something that looks like the pictures above.

And I always assume that you will be watching the video, in which I usually tell you what the abbreviations are for, but if not:

KFB = Knit into the front and back of the next stitch

SSK = Slip the next two stitches knitwise, one at a time, and then knit them together through the back loop.  I actually like to slip the second stitch purlwise, but most of the time patterns will instruct you to slip both knitwise.  Either way will work, but I find that by slipping the second stitch purlwise, it makes the stitches a bit neater

K2tog = Knit the next two stitches together as if they were one

Cast on a multiple of 14 + 2

Rows 1 and 3:  Purl all stitches

Rows 2 and 4: K1, KFB, K4, SSK, K2tog, K4 *KFB, KFB, K4, SSK, K2tog, K4* Repeat from * to last 2 stitches, KFB, K1

Repeat these 4 rows for the pattern.  

And here is the video.  Enjoy!