The Staggered Eyelet Lace Knitting Stitch is a simple lace pattern that creates small diagonal eyelets arranged in alternating sections across a stockinette background. The eyelets shift position halfway through the repeat, producing a subtle staggered pattern without creating an overly open fabric.
Worked with a 6-stitch repeat and 16-row pattern repeat, this is an approachable lace knitting stitch using only knit, purl, yarn overs and knit-two-together decreases. It would work well for lightweight sweaters, scarves, shawls, baby knits and decorative panels.
Pattern Details
- Stitch Repeat: 6 stitches
- Row Repeat: 16 rows
- Techniques: Knit, purl, yarn over and k2tog
- Worked Flat: Yes
Abbreviations
- k: knit
- p: purl
- st(s): stitch(es)
- yo: yarn over
- k2tog: knit 2 stitches together
- RS: right side
Staggered Eyelet Lace Written Pattern
Row 1 (RS): knit to end.
Row 2: purl to end.
Row 3: k3, *k2tog, yo, k4; repeat from * to end.
Row 4: purl to end.
Row 5: repeat Row 3.
Row 6: repeat Row 4.
Row 7: repeat Row 3.
Row 8: repeat Row 4.
Row 9: knit to end.
Row 10: purl to end.
Row 11: k2tog, *yo, k4, k2tog; repeat from * to last st, yo, k1.
Row 12: purl to end.
Row 13: repeat Row 11.
Row 14: repeat Row 12.
Row 15: repeat Row 11.
Row 16: repeat Row 12.
Repeat Rows 1–16 for the pattern.
Stitch Count and Pattern Repeat
The lace is based on a 6-stitch repeat, but because the two lace sections are offset, the starting and ending stitches differ between Rows 3 and 11.
On Row 3, each k2tog decreases one stitch and each yo immediately replaces it. There is therefore no change in stitch count.
On Row 11, the row begins with k2tog and ends with yo, k1. Across the complete row, the yarn overs and decreases again balance each other, so the stitch count remains unchanged.
For the written instructions to finish exactly as given, use a cast-on of:
a multiple of 6 + 3 stitches
For example:
- 1 repeat: 9 sts
- 2 repeats: 15 sts
- 3 repeats: 21 sts
- 4 repeats: 27 sts
- 5 repeats: 33 sts
Helpful Knitting Notes
The first lace section is worked on Rows 3, 5 and 7. After two plain stockinette rows, the eyelet placement shifts for Rows 11, 13 and 15. This alternating placement creates the staggered appearance.
The original pattern uses the abbreviation yfd (yarn forward). In these instructions it functions as a yarn over, so it has been written as yo for clarity.
Take care not to miss the yarn over immediately following each decrease. Every k2tog is balanced by a yarn over, and a missing yo will reduce the stitch count.
Finishing Tip
The eyelets may look quite small while the fabric is on the needles. Gentle blocking will open them and make the staggered lace pattern more distinct without dramatically changing the overall texture of the fabric.
