Herringbones and Checkerboards and Other Loominosities

Okay, you can do a knit stitch (K), and you've finally mastered the purl stitch (P), so what's next? Once you have learned just these two basic stitches on a loom, you can vary the look of your knit pieces by simply changing the order in which you do these simple stitches.

A ribbed pattern comes to life if you stack your knits and purls on the same pins as you knit each row —

First Row: K3, P3, K3, P3 .... repeat to end of row
All Rows: K3, P3, K3, P3 .... repeat to end of row

A rather nifty little checkerboard pattern can be created on a round loom or a rake loom simply by alternating knits and purls like this —

Rows 1 to 5: K6, P6, K6, P6 .... repeat to end of row
Rows 6 to 10: P6, K6, P6, K6 .... repeat to end of row

[Note: use fewer Ks or Ps in each set for wide gauge looms, more Ks and Ps in each set for small gauge looms.]

Your checkerboard comes to life as you repeat these two alternating row patterns for the length of your piece. As always, swatch [Shhh! You didn't really hear me say the "S" word!] if the size of your pattern blocks is important to you.

You can also do a simple herringbone stitch by offsetting the pattern of your stitches to the right by one peg every two rows. As an example —

Rows 1 & 2: K3, P3, K3, P3 .... repeat to end of row
Rows 3 & 4: P1, *K3, P3, K3, P3 .... repeat from * to end of row
Rows 5 & 6: P2, *K3, P3, K3, P3 .... repeat from * to end of row
Rows 7 & 8: P3, *K3, P3, K3, P3 .... repeat from * to end of row
Rows 9 & 10: K1, *P3, K3, P3, K3 .... repeat from * to end of row
Rows 11 & 12: K2, *P3, K3, P3, K3 .... repeat from * to end of row
Rows 13 & 14: K3, P3, K3, P3 .... repeat to end of row

Well what do you know — only two different stitches and already you're halfway to looming patterned dishcloths!

[Pictured: Mixed Patons, Lion Brand and New Zealand wools hand-dyed in shades of cornflower, jade, raspberry and cherry.]