BUTTERFLY BOWS, INTRODUCTION OF THE THEME:

BUTTERFLY BOWS, INTRODUCTION OF THE THEME:
Repeat of 12+1 stitches and 20 rows.

Rows 1, 3, 5, and 7: p1, *sl 5 with yarn in front, p1, k5, p1* across row.
Even rows: k1, *p5, k1* across row.
Row 9: p1, *k2, reach right needle up from under the stranded threads and
        k the next st, pulling the new stitch back down under the strands
        and out (this gathers the threads into a bow; pull and snug this
        stitch a bit until it looks nice), k2, p1, k5, p1* across.
Rows 11, 13, 15, and 17: p1, *k5, p1, sl 5 with yarn in front, p1* across.
Row 19: p1, *k5, p1, k2, k1 (gathering the strands as before), k2, p1*
        across.

VARIATION #1:ON A PLAINER BACKGROUND
Instead of having a single column of purl stitches between the columns
of bows, make the whole background in stockinette. Add extra stitches
and/or rows between the repeats to scatter the bows more widely. Or
scatter them at random

VARIATION #2: KNITTED IN THE ROUND
In the round, delete the edge purl stitch, and the repeat is 12 stitches
exactly. The plain rounds are then *k5, p1* around. You can compress the
number of rows in the repeat by leaving out the plain rounds #10 and 20,
and combining the gathering of the bows and the start of the next round of
stranding in the same round.

VARIATION #3: REVERSE STOCKINETTE BACKGROUND
The bows stand out more sharply against reverse stockinette stitch. If
you make the background pattern *p5, k1* the bows will span between a
single rib of knit stitches. It's a bit tricky to make the gathering-up
stitch as a purl stitch; in fact, I don't remember how I did it...you
could probably use a single knit stitch for this.

VARIATION #4: A COLOR SWAG (CIRCULAR KNITTING VERSION)
Warning: I haven't tried this one, but it ought to work, at least in
circular knitting. Make only a single band of bows on a background of
a different color, or more than one...

Rows 1, 3, 5, and 7: In contrast color, *sl 5 with yarn in front, k7*
        around. (oh, I guess you'd have to anchor it first somehow)
Even rows: In main color k around.
Row 9: In main color, *k2, make one knit stitch gathering the strands,
        k9* around.

This is long enough and it's getting pretty speculative. There are lots
of possibilities for more variations on this pattern. I hope you enjoy
playing with it!

--Judy
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Judy Gibson                    Descanso, California
Botany Department, San Diego Natural History Museum
jgibson@cts.com    http://www.forfood.com/~jgibson/

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