3 Dazzling Stitches Add Beautiful Images to Your Knitting

You can add stalks of bamboo, ocean ripples, and sets of stairs to your knitting with these easy, delightful stitch patterns!

Isn’t it fun to make magic with your knitting?

Knitting is already a form of magic, really. You take a pair of sticks, some strands of yarn, wave them around a bit, and poof: you’ve created something entirely new!

Of course, it’s one thing to create something entirely new using garter stitch–knitting every row–or stockinette stitch–knitting one row and purling another. It’s another thing entirely to create magical images in your knitting–again, using just knit and purl stitches.

To me, it’s just short of miraculous, really!

The knitting stitches you’ll see below capture beautiful images of bamboo stalks, rippling waves, and a set of stairs. They’re incredibly easy to knit, and they’re so much fun. You can use these easily for scarves, washcloths, afghan squares, or really anything that is square or rectangular-shaped!

Abbreviations for All Patterns

K: knit

P: purl

YO: yarnover (wrap working yarn once around your left needle)

Bamboo Stitch

On one hand, this is an incredibly easy stitch pattern. It consists of just two rows, one of which is purl row! On the other hand, it can be a little tricky because it’s the rare stitch pattern that begins with a yarnover.

This is why you’ll find a garter stitch border very helpful. Not only will it give your project structure, but it will also provide a firm foundation for the yarnover you use at the beginning of the stitch.

Cast on any number of stitches that’s 8 or higher and is a multiple of 2. This will allow you to knit a 2-stitch garter border. Just add two knit stitches to the beginning and end of each row. (The 2 knit stitches at the beginning and end of each row are not mentioned in the stitch pattern below.)

Row 1: *YO, K2, pass the yarnover stitch over the two knit stitches, repeat from * to end.
Row 2: Purl.

Just repeat these two rows until your work is as long as you like. Yes… that’s really all there is to it!

Ripple Stitch

As the name implies, this stitch pattern creates a lovely ripple effect. It isn’t quite as easy to memorize as the other stitch patterns here, because it’s a 10-row repeat with only 2 repeated rows. However, you’ll find a rhythm with this pattern, and I think you’ll catch on quite quickly. It’s really too delightful to resist!

Cast on any multiple of 14. A border isn’t essential for this stitch, but if you wish to knit one, be sure to include your beginning and ending knit stitches in your cast-on count.

Row 1: K6, *P2, K6, repeat from * to end
Row 2: K1, *P4, K4, P4, K1, repeat from * to end
Row 3: P2, *K2, P2, repeat from * to end
Row 4: P1, *K4, P4, K4, P1, repeat from * to end
Row 5: K2, *P2, K6, P2, K2, repeat from * to end
Row 6: P6, *K2, P6, repeat from * to end
Row 7: Repeat Row 4
Row 8: K2, *P2, K2, repeat from * to end
Row 9: Repeat Row 2
Row 10: P2, K2, P6, K2, P2

Repeat these 10 rows until your work is as long as you’d like. (If necessary, you can end at row 5 or 6, as you’ll have a completed “ripple” at this point.)

Stair Stitch

Yes, this stitch pattern really does create an adorable set of stairs in your knitting! This is, like the Ripple Stitch, a longer stitch pattern; however, 12 of the 16 rows are repeats. You’ll get the hang of it in no time!

Cast on any multiple of 8 plus two. Like the Ripple Stitch, a border isn’t essential, but if you wish to use one, be sure to include your beginning and ending knit stitches in your cast-on count.

Row 1: *K4, P4, repeat from * to last two stitches, K2
Row 2: P2, *K4, P4, repeat from * to end
Rows 3 and 4: Repeat Rows 1 & 2
Row 5: K2, *P4, K4, repeat from * to end
Row 6: *P4, K4, repeat from * to last two stitches, P2
Rows 7 and 8: Repeat Rows 5 & 6
Rows 9 and 10: Repeat Rows 6 & 5
Rows 11 and 12: Repeat Rows 6 & 5
Rows 13 and 14: Repeat Rows 2 & 1
Rows 15 and 16: Repeat Rows 2 & 1

Repeat these rows until your work is the desired length.

One great feature of this stitch is that you don’t have to finish on row 16. You can finish on row 4, 8, or 12 instead, if you have the length you need. You’ll have a complete set of “stairs,” and it will look wonderful!

Why not make some knitting magic and try one of these beautiful image knit stitch patterns?