EILEEN ADLER

Bet You Can’t Knit Just One! A Potato Chip Knitting Pattern

Knitting is my passion but sometimes, the thought of knitting an entire garment becomes overwhelming. My days are busier now so I can’t just knit the day away. Frankly, I never did that, but I might have enjoyed it! Rummaging through my stash, (all knitters have a ready supply of yarn), I came across a multi-colored skein of sock-weight yarn and aha, my bead necklace emerged. You will need about twenty-five grams (about 100 yards) of sock-weight yarn for one necklace. This may become one of those patterns referred to as potato chip patterns – you can’t stop making them! The knitting needles need to be dpn (double pointed needles) which usually come in sets of four or five needles.

If you remember playing Pick-up Sticks, you’ve handled double pointed sticks because they look just like dpn. I like to use size 2.25 to 3 millimeter size but size isn’t critical for this pattern. If you want bigger beads, use bigger needles and heavier weight yarn. To check out yarn weights, go to www.yarnstandards.com For the Bead Necklace, you will only need two double pointed needles. This sample was knitted in Baah La Jolla yarn – just select a colorway you love. The skills you need to know are the I-cord, knit stitch, the purl stitch, yarn over stitch, and k2tog (knit two together) which is a decrease method, but for some, p1tbl may be a new technique. P1tbl means to purl the yarn over from the previous row tbl, through back loop.

Check out these websites for more detailed instructions using the Continental knitting style:
https://www.purlsoho.com/create/purl-through-the-back-loop-p-tbl/ or the English knitting style:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPh84pLRmcw
To work an I-cord after casting on 4 stitches, knit 1 row. *slide the stitches to the opposite end of the double pointed needle so the working yarn is attached to farthest stitch on the left; this is correct. Knit the 4 stitches. Repeat from the * to knit an I-cord. A total of four rounds will be knitted to start but following each bead, six rounds will be completed. Check out this website for and illustration:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBq8HhyEv-g

Pattern Directions:
Size: 60” or desired length for the necklace.
Materials: 25 grams of sock-weight yarn and double pointed needles, (size 2.25 to 3 mm).
With double pointed needles, cast on 4 stitches
I-Cord Rounds 1, 2, 3, and 4: work I-cord
Begin bead
Row 5 (RS): (k1, yo) 3x, end k1; 7 sts
Row 6 (WS): (p1, p1tbl) repeat to last stitch, p1
Row 7: k1, (yo, k1) 6x; 13 sts
Row 8: (p1, p1tbl) repeat to last stitch, p1
Row 9: p1, (yo two times, p1) repeat to end of row
Row 10: knit, dropping off the double yo from the previous row; 13 sts
Row 11: knit

Row 12: Purl
Row 13: k1 (k2tog) repeat to end of row
Row 14: purl
Row 15: k1 (k2tog) repeat to end of row; 4 stitches remain.
I-Cord Rounds 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21: work 4-stitch I-cord
Repeat from Begin Bead - Rows 5 to Round 21 for every bead/I-cord sequence.
At the very end of the last I-cord, work Rounds 16, 17, 18, and 19.
To bind off: (k2tog) twice, pass the first stitch over the second stitch, one stitch remains. Cut the yarn and thread the end through the last stitch and cinch tight.
Finish – weave in ends or use the tails to sew beginning and end together.
Notes:
1.) Vary the length of I-Cord rounds, some shorter, others longer.
2.) If you want a choker, make an odd number of beads so one bead is in the center and work
the pattern for 18” in length. Sew the ends together or tie a bow or attach a clasp.
 

© 2019 – Eileen Adler