How to Knit a Flame Stitch

The flame stitch is a unique pattern that creates a undulating pattern within the rows of the fabric. It also has an interesting fluted vertically through the fabric that adds interest to the pattern without being overwhelming to the overall pattern.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Color A Yarn
• Color B Yarn
• Knitting needles

1. Cast on with your color A yarn. You will need to cast on multiples of four stitches plus one. This means that the number of stitches that you cast on must be divisible by four with one extra stitch because the stitch pattern is repeated over four stitches and the extra stitch creates your selvage.
2. Purl all the stitches in the first row with the color A yarn.
3. Switch to your color B yarn. You will use this yarn for the next four rows. To switch yarns, simply let the color A yarn hang from the last stitch, insert the needle to knit like you normally would and loop the color B yarn over the needle. Remember to leave a tail of the B yarn. You will weave in the ends of the yarn at the end of the project.
4. Knit the following pattern: knit the first stitch and then begin the pattern repeat. This is to slip the next 3 stitches, wrap the yarn around the back of those stitches and knit 1 stitch. Keep repeating the pattern of slipping 3 stitches, wrapping the yarn and knitting 1 stitch until you reach the end of the row. If you're familiar with knitting shorthand the instructions for row 1 are: k1 *sl3, wyib, k1* repeat between ** until end of row. Row 1 also is the right side of your fabric.
5. Knit Row 2 in the following pattern: purl the first stitch and then start the pattern of slipping the next stitch, wrapping the yarn in front, and purling the next 3 stitches. Repeat the pattern of slipping the next stitch, wrapping the yarn in the front and purling the next 3 stitches until you reach the end of the row. This row creates the wrong side of the fabric. If you're familiar with knitting abbreviations row 2 is: p1, *sl1, wyif, p3* repeat between ** until the end of the row.
6. Knit all the stitches in row 3.
7. Purl all the stitches in row 4.
8. You will need to switch yarns after you have completed rows 1 through 4. Work rows 1 through 4 with your color A yarn. Keep repeating rows 1 through 4 and switching yarns until your project is the size that you want it and cast off.

Tips & Warnings

• You can create this pattern with just two colors or ten. Just continue to rotate the colors every four rows in order for the flame pattern to appear in the fabric.
• Make sure to carefully swatch this pattern. Because of the slipped stitches and the way that the yarn is wrapped, the fabric will pull inward and be smaller and denser than a normal stockinette swatch.