Recently, I got thinking about how the same stitch looks really different depending on how it is worked up. So I did an experiment. I started with a fairly generic pattern stitch:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg03j_DuI_15SgCgr_Xaf3xe2__v8zEOKWxOf6DtDA4O3pKShJHXA6X9ZE-NHx1qL6sfMWHqWTGpzHwDT_mlCYTcAV1bJBz35l9Igx4oGIaPYndr-rzi-LbFlZBnsoIjqvweBZ7v_5Td6Od/s1600/Stitch+diagram.jpg) |
stitch diagram/chart |
The pattern stitch is basically 1 row of a traditional shell stitch, followed by a row with a V-stitch and a (sc, ch, sc) made in the middle of the shell of the previous row. Both rows have a multiple of 6 stitches. (An aside: Actually, the (sc, ch, sc) is (sc, ch2, sc), but the (ch2) counts as one stitch, so whether it is actually 1 ch or 2 ch doesn't matter that much.) The shell stitch makes a scallop; the V-stitch row straightens out the edge. I made samples out of worsted weight yarn (Encore by Plymouth) in rows, triangles, rounds worked from the center out, and strips. Staggering the two rows, there is a 4-row repeat.
Starting with the pattern in just rows: the two pattern rows alternate, so the shell stitch row is always right side (RS) facing on one side and the V-stitch is always RS facing the other. The two sides look different, making an orderly fabric that looks crocheted:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiApC2P1ISlEbu6FIZ7AzhhwABy2o3UlvC3iNyXdAUjtoBFsYlGjtc4r1x9lsElUpsmT-hv0IAlLS0hsuu4AToWyXV6GJgEDac_LqwCSQifySXBVMkIh9PiQ40ZZxOx-o7BO0xhW1PDcMO1/s1600/rows+front.jpg) |
Rows - shell stitch RS facing - this looks smoother to me. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLjRKiSwv6tlKC5Zy5lF2W6hcQRk7nyPbgmtwg1YrnPUcq6-FakKjN3M8_iAMW0VxwckyB3KzWhJTTbI1bddpLsXrJI_HVSzavf5ENQlrz6drFqmHhGxw_TS0nHKeq5Gkjfp7qjHc3V-c/s1600/rows+back.jpg) |
Rows - V-stitch RS facing looks a bit more rough. |
Next, a triangle - starting at the center top at the back of the neck, small, and increasing out, with an increase line down the center. The increase line in the middle adds a visual element that breaks up the order of the plain rows. The last row is the two short sides with the scallop-y edge. The (fairly) straight line across the top is the row ends.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTT3J7EqaVgfs0W8fvyzBC98VS-L_eUd_D-hWAWPqSQ9e6CAbLyk-YMK3hiuvScamP-EXCx1hBnqi9Fae2AnEmLCdD5t9yPgj1D_d_KzePOQ_4OZQcyNVZaenMpc8ZlMcCZs7U4Xi_2oG/s1600/triangle+looser+gauge.jpg) |
Triangle - looser gauge |
A looser gauge version (left) makes a squishy fabric, that drapes well in different directions. In a tighter gauge (below), the long edge isn't so straight - that means the corner isn't really square. Both triangles are the same size, but the one with the looser gauge is 2 rows shorter.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0K2ow1g0l079c8y2w9tBFnTPxy87SS-oeetiNI2pIDPHL6FUExchgeHg5AN5GMstk4MhIfu6rgJlsORr3KjNGnC4QPMMsmw-uCnlx-XIHqaW2FVc5jZzzhBvOkYRJ2ki1nG_AD-OuXBm/s1600/triangle+tighter+gauge.jpg) |
Triangle - tighter gauge - not so straight across the top |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWkbzBS-AoS2FiYVH81fXMp7XrThvvFGgdTDeYsyOUrb70Fbj58Di7iuH_zIde1d2x8MpLHvuKLBKWeW08cXMebV1rthOR4M8PCxz9TfAVbP-e2iRuvUSCtPas_f-kR28V8WkGKNpW8Chyphenhyphen/s1600/in+the+round.jpg) |
In the round, starting at center |
How does stitching in the round look different? It is more dynamic-looking than the straight rows, with increase lines radiating out from the center and stitches going in different directions. Stitched as motifs and joined together, the increase lines would create a visual lattice crisscrossing the fabric. Ending with a shell stitch round gives a scalloped edge. Ending with a V-stitch round would make a straighter edge and also would make joining motifs easy in the last round, with a slip-stitch joining to the neighbor block replacing each ch-1.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwfm2uWG2r_S3ezz2wY27DUpunyXXma-48cQuI6gfJ__o3OOTNr4zi9ZU4NNvpk4d3nKHR4H12BJPFnPZd2fJ-vL4x-AxgR7IF5iqkruAN3RTFqHLGeWVsREe5ZRBi_9k1T54k9KhLe_8l/s1600/one+repeat+edging+front.jpg) |
One repeat edging |
Then there could also be narrow strips: A single repeat is asymmetric. The wider strip is a repeat-and-a-half to be symmetrical. There's a lot of experimentation in crochet, using thread patterns with yarn and yarn / afghan patterns in thread to see how they look different. These could be charming for a strip afghan, as edgings, weaving ribbon through the holes for baby headbands, or as bookmarks.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8wVVADNkY8DakvePAwZMPHvpwUU0W_2HRc2g8ayAiL3z6m0myTiYA0QgvlLNbfOe2KZprxyLj4w38uThR2VQwbcDL0_nxdF1cRsRkTmdX1jcGI6PiDWENThekspMxMqtaxXsBxABhCS8/s1600/mile-a-minute+front.jpg) |
strip, handy for mile-a-minute construction |
This is just a few variations on one pattern stitch, in one yarn. I like to try out different stitches to see how the fabric plays out:
- Is is better for garments or for afghans or for threadwork?
- Does the stitch pattern get lost in a loose gauge that drapes nicely?
- Does the fabric get too stiff in a firm gauge that shows up the stitches better?
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