Traveling Texture

By Megan Williams

Instagram handle: @justrunknit

Megan Williams works with computers and doctors in Rochester, MN, chases around her 3 children, and knits late into the night. Megan designs knitwear, has a video knitting podcast called Stockinette Zombies, organizes an annual knitting retreat called Zombie Knitpocalypse, and tries to run every now and then. Follow her crazy life on Instagram and JustRunKnit.com.

Inspiration: While I love intricate cable motifs, I was inspired to create a simple stitch repeat that features stitches moving across the fabric. While it might look complicated, it is only a 4-stitch repeat. This stitch pattern would be great at the top of a sock, on a sweater hem, as a hat brim, or as a whole scarf. If you love to knit washcloths, the textured ridges would be great for scrubbing!

Tip: Sometimes stitches just need a little re-tensioning! Whether your tension was a little off while knitting, you were working short rows, or joined in the round for an underarm, stitches get pulled and jostled, working slack INTO them. Re-tensioning works the slack back OUT and redistributes the loose/slack tension into surrounding stitches. Give it a try: slowly pull the slack into surrounding stitches one leg of the stitch at a time, redistributing the excess looseness.

Special Techniques

1/2 LC: sl 1 st onto cn, hold in front, k2, k1 from cn.

Sl1yf: Slip 1 with yarn in front.

Sl1yb: Slip 1 with yarn in back.

Traveling Texture Pattern (worked flat, multiple of 4 stitches + 1)

Rows 1, 3, & 5 (WS): K1, *k2, sl1yf, k1*; rep to end.

Rows 2 & 4 (RS): Knit.

Row 6 (RS): *K1, 1/2 LC*; rep to last st, k1.

Rows 7, 9, & 11 (WS): K1, *sl1yf, k3*; rep to end.

Rows 8 & 10 (RS): Knit.

Row 12 (RS): K2, *k1, 1/2 LC*; rep to last 3 sts, k3.

Rep Rows 1-12.

Traveling Texture Pattern (worked in the round, multiple of 4 stitches)

Rnds 1, 3, & 5: *P1, sl1yb, p2*; rep to end of rnd.

Rnds 2 & 4: Knit.

Rnd 6: *K1, 1/2 LC*; rep to end of rnd.

Rnds 7, 9, & 11: *P3, sl1yf*; rep to end of rnd.

Rnds 8 & 10: Knit.

Rnd 12: K2, *k1, 1/2 LC*; rep to last 2 sts, k2.

Rep Rnds 1-12.