Stitch patterns are specific sequences of knit and purl stitches (and sometimes other techniques) that create various textures and designs in knitted fabric. Here are some common stitch patterns and how they are created:

Basic Stitch Patterns

1. Garter Stitch
   • Pattern: Knit every row.
   • Characteristics: Reversible, stretchy, and ridged texture.
2. Stockinette Stitch
   • Pattern: Alternate rows of knit and purl stitches (K one row, P one row).
   • Characteristics: Smooth “V” pattern on the front, bumpy on the back, tends to curl at the edges.
3. Reverse Stockinette Stitch
   • Pattern: Alternate rows of purl and knit stitches (P one row, K one row).
   • Characteristics: Bumpy texture on the front, smooth “V” pattern on the back.
4. Ribbing
   • Pattern: Alternate knit and purl stitches within a row (e.g., K1, P1 or K2, P2).
   • Characteristics: Stretchy, great for edges of garments like cuffs, necklines, and hems.

Textured Stitch Patterns

1. Seed Stitch
   • Pattern: Alternate K1, P1 across a row, then offset by starting with P1, K1 in the next row.
   • Characteristics: Pebbled texture, reversible.
2. Moss Stitch
   • Pattern: Similar to seed stitch, but each pair of rows starts with the same stitch (e.g., K1, P1 for two rows, then P1, K1 for the next two rows).
   • Characteristics: Slightly more structured than seed stitch, reversible.
3. Basketweave
   • Pattern: Blocks of knit and purl stitches arranged in a checkerboard pattern (e.g., 4×4 knit and purl).
   • Characteristics: Resembles a woven basket, adds visual and textural interest.
4. Honeycomb Stitch
   • Pattern: Typically involves slipped stitches and knit stitches to create a pattern that looks like a honeycomb.
   • Characteristics: Dense and textured, good for warm garments.

Lace Stitch Patterns

1. Feather and Fan
   • Pattern: A series of yarn overs and decreases create a wave-like pattern.
   • Characteristics: Open, airy, often used in shawls and scarves.
2. Leaf Lace
   • Pattern: Involves a series of increases and decreases to form a leaf shape.
   • Characteristics: Delicate and intricate, commonly used in lace shawls.
3. Diamond Lace
   • Pattern: Yarn overs and decreases arranged to form a diamond shape.
   • Characteristics: Elegant and symmetrical, great for decorative pieces.

Cable Stitch Patterns

1. Basic Cable
   • Pattern: Cross a set of stitches over another set by holding stitches on a cable needle.
   • Characteristics: Twisted appearance, adds dimension and texture.
2. Horseshoe Cable
   • Pattern: Involves multiple crossing points to form a horseshoe shape.
   • Characteristics: Complex and visually striking, often used in sweaters and scarves.
3. Braided Cable
   • Pattern: Multiple cable crossings that intertwine like a braid.
   • Characteristics: Intricate and textured, used in high-detail projects.

Colorwork Stitch Patterns

1. Fair Isle
   • Pattern: Knitting with two or more colors per row, carrying the unused color behind the work.
   • Characteristics: Stranded colorwork, often used in traditional Nordic designs.
2. Intarsia
   • Pattern: Blocks of color are knit separately and joined in the same row.
   • Characteristics: Allows for large blocks of color, often used in graphical patterns.
3. Slip Stitch Colorwork
   • Pattern: Involves slipping stitches of one color while knitting with another.
   • Characteristics: Creates a textured pattern with less bulk than stranded colorwork.

Advanced Stitch Patterns

1. Brioche Stitch
   • Pattern: Involves yarn overs and knitting stitches together, creating a thick, stretchy fabric.
   • Characteristics: Very warm and squishy, reversible, often used in scarves and hats.
2. Double Knitting
   • Pattern: Creates two layers of fabric at the same time, usually with a mirrored color pattern.
   • Characteristics: Reversible with the opposite color scheme on each side, very thick and warm.
3. Entrelac
   • Pattern: Creates a textured, woven look by knitting small blocks in tiers.
   • Characteristics: Intricate and eye-catching, often used in blankets and scarves.

Specialty Stitch Patterns

1. Smocking Stitch
   • Pattern: Uses a combination of knit and purl stitches with elongated stitches to create a gathered effect.
   • Characteristics: Adds texture and depth, resembles traditional fabric smocking.
2. Bobble Stitch
   • Pattern: Involves creating multiple stitches into one and then decreasing them back to one, forming a raised bump.
   • Characteristics: Adds a three-dimensional texture, often used for decorative purposes.
3. Chevron
   • Pattern: A series of increases and decreases create a zigzag pattern.
   • Characteristics: Bold and geometric, adds visual interest to garments and accessories.

Mastering these stitch patterns will allow you to create a wide variety of textures and designs in your knitting projects, from simple to complex.