Stitch Swatch Sampler Swatch 11: Step Stitch

SWATCH 11:  STEP STITCH

This stitch uses front and back post dc’s to create a diagonal step design in the fabric.

Ch 16 (Multiple of 6 plus 2, plus 2 turning chains)

Row 1:  Dc in 4^th ch from hook and in each ch across.  Turn.

Row 2:  Ch 2, (fpdc in next 3 sts, bpdc in next 3 sts) twice, hdc in top of turning ch.

Row 3:  Ch 2, (fpdc in next 2 sts, bpdc in next 3 sts, fpdc in next st) twice, hdc in top of turning ch.  Turn.

Row 4:  Ch 2, (bpdc in next 2 sts, fpdc in next 3 sts, bpdc in next st) twice, hdc in top of turning ch.  Turn.

Row 5:  Ch 2, (bpdc in  next 3 sts, fpdc in next 3 sts) twice, hdc in top of turning ch.  Turn.

Row 6:  Ch 2, (fpdc in next st, bpdc in next 3 sts, fpdc in next 2 sts) twice, hdc in top of turning ch.  Turn.

Row 7:  Ch 2, (bpdc in next st, fpdc in next 3 sts, bpdc in next 2 sts) twice, hdc in top of turning ch.  Turn.

Row 8:  Rep Row 2.

Row 9:  Rep Row 3.  Break off; weave in ends.

Abbreviations:  ch  chain  dc  double crochet  fpdc  front post double crochet  bpdc  back post double crochet  st(s)  stitch(es)  pdc  post double crochet  hdc  half double crochet  Rep  repeat  yo  yarn over hook

To work a hdc:  Yo hook, insert into st, yo and draw loop through st, yo and draw through all 3 loops.

Step Stitch Pro Tips:

• ·       Note that the stitch pattern has groups of 3 fpdc’s and 3 bpdc’s for the body of the fabric.  The only place this is different is at the edges, where the diagonal lines come up against the straight selvedge edge.  So after you have worked any partial groups (1 or 2 pdc’s) at the right edge, you can happily work along in groups of 3 until you get close to the left edge.  My instructions were written to make the swatch easy to work; but if you are working a larger fabric, it may be easier to think in terms of the 3 pdc groups.
• ·       These instructions could be alternatively written using asterisks, instead of the repeated parentheses sections.  If they were written that way, Row 3 might have been written as follows: 

          Ch 2, fpdc in next 2 sts, *bpdc in next 3 sts, fpdc in next 3 sts.  Rep from * across, ending 

          bpdc in next 3 sts, fpdc in next st, hdc in last st.  This way of writing the instructions shows the 

          3-pdc repeat really well, but would have been awkward, as there would only have been one

          repeat.

• ·         See Swatch 10 instructions for how to work fpdc and bpdc sts.

Stitch Swatch Sampler Swatch 10: Basket Weave Stitch

SWATCH 10:  BASKET WEAVE STITCH

This stitch pattern uses post stitches (which are worked around the shaft of the stitch of the row below, instead of into its “head”) to create a ribbed effect.  The fabric is very textural, and creates a woven look.  See Pro Tips for instructions on how to do the fpdc and bpdc.

Basket Weave Stitch

Chain 16 (multiple of 4 plus 2, plus 2 turning chains).

Row 1:  Dc in 4^th ch from hook and in each ch across.  14 sts.

Row 2:  Ch 2 (counts as 1 st), fpdc around post of next st of row below, (bpdc over next 2 sts, fpdc over next 2 sts) 3 times.   Turn work.

Row 3:  Rep Row 2.

Row 4:  Ch 2, bpdc over next st, (fpdc over next 2 sts,  bpdc over next 2 sts) 3 times.  Turn work.

Row 5:  Rep Row 4.

Row 6:  Rep Row 2.

Row 7:  Rep Row 2.

Row 8:  Rep Row 4.

Row 9:  Rep Row 4.

At end of Row 9, break off.  Weave in ends.

Basket Weave Stitch Pro Tips:

• ·         To work a fpdc:  Yo hook; insert the hook from the front, behind the shaft or post of the stitch from right to left and out at the front.  Yo and draw a loop behind the post and back to the front again; this takes the place of drawing up a loop in the stitch of the row below.  (Yo and draw through 2 loops) twice.

Insert hook under shaft of st from front

Yo hook, draw loop around shaft of st

(Yo and draw through 2 loops) twice...the completed fpdc 

• ·         To work a bpdc:  Yo hook; starting from back of work, insert hook around the shaft or post of the st of the previous row from back, to front, and to the back again; yo and draw this loop back to the back of the work, (yo and draw through 2 loops) twice.

Insert hook around shaft of st from back

Yo hook, draw loop around shaft of st

(Yo, draw through 2 loops) twice...the completed bpdc

•  ·         This stitch can be a little confusing to work.  Keep in mind that each time you work a row a second time ( in our swatch, this would be rows 3, 5, 7 and 9), you will be working your post stitches opposite to the way they were worked on the row below.  This is because you are working on the opposite side of the fabric.  So on these rows, you will work a fpdc over each bpdc, and a bpdc over each fpdc.  In other words, you will work one row (rows 2, 4, 6 and 8) working fpdc’s over fpdc’s, and bpdc’s over bpdc’s, and the next row working fpdc’s over bpdc’s, and bpdc’s over fpdc’s.

Abbreviations:  ch  chain  dc  double crochet  st(s)  stitch(es)  fpdc  front post double crochet
                           bpdc  back post dc  rep  repeat  yo  yarn over