Lace Petal Knitting Stitch for Summer Projects – Pattern and Instructions

Today we’ll see a beautiful lace knitting stitch with a delicate design: it features a petal-shaped motif that is highly decorative, elegant, and perfectly suited for many spring or summer projects.

This stitch is based on stockinette stitch, which—with its smooth and compact surface—provides the perfect backdrop for decorative eyelets created through increases and decreases.
Once blocked, the fabric is stable, durable, pleasant to the touch, and very practical.

Technical characteristics of the Lace Petal Knitting Stitch

This pattern is worked over a number of stitches divisible by 11.
For example: 33, 44, 55 stitches (plus optional edge stitches, if desired).

To work this lace pattern, only a few basic stitches are needed—simple, but very effective. Here are the ones used:

• Knit stitch – The most classic stitch, worked on the right side of the fabric.
• Purl stitch – Used on even-numbered rows (wrong side), forming the base of the stockinette stitch.
• Yarn over – Creates small decorative holes (eyelets) by wrapping the yarn around the right needle.
• K2tog (knit two together, right-leaning) – Knit two stitches together as one. This creates a decrease that leans to the right.
• SKPSSO (slip, knit and pass slipped stitch over – left-leaning decrease) – Slip one stitch knitwise, knit the next, then pass the slipped stitch over. This creates a decrease that leans to the left.

To knit a sample swatch, you can cast on 35 stitches:

• 33 stitches for the pattern (3 repeats of 11 stitches)
• 2 edge stitches (one at the beginning and one at the end)

Tip: To neaten the edge, you can work 2 rows in garter stitch (knit every stitch) before starting the actual lace pattern.

Row-by-Row Instructions:

Row 1 (right side):
Slip the first stitch (edge stitch) knitwise without working it.
Work each 11-stitch repeat as follows:
yarn over, knit 3, SKPSSO (slip, knit and pass slipped stitch over), k2tog (knit two together), knit 3, yarn over, knit 1.
Repeat across the row.
At the end, knit the last edge stitch.

Row 2 and all even rows (wrong side):
Slip the edge stitch knitwise without working it, then purl all stitches including yarn overs of the previous row.
End the row by knitting the edge stitch.

Rows 3 and 5 (right side):
Repeat Row 1.

Row 7:
Slip the edge stitch, then work each 11-stitch repeat as follows:
knit 1, yarn over, knit 2, SKPSSO, k2tog, knit 2, yarn over, knit 2.
Repeat across the row, finishing with a knit edge stitch.

Row 9:
Slip the edge stitch knitwise without working it, then repeat the following 11-stitch sequence:
knit 2, yarn over, knit 1, SKPSSO, k2tog, knit 1, yarn over, knit 3.
Continue repeating until the end of the row, finishing with a knit edge stitch.

Row 11:
Slip the edge stitch, then work each 11-stitch repeat as follows:
knit 3, yarn over, SKPSSO, k2tog, yarn over, knit 4.
Repeat across the row, finishing with a knit edge stitch.

Row 13:
Slip the edge stitch knitwise, then work each 11-stitch repeat as follows:
knit 4, yarn over, SKPSSO, yarn over, knit 3, SKPSSO.
Repeat this sequence across the row, and finish with a knit edge stitch.

Row 15:
Slip the edge stitch, then work each 11-stitch repeat as follows:
k2tog, knit 3, yarn over, knit 1, yarn over, knit 3, SKPSSO.
Repeat across the row. At the end, knit the edge stitch.

Rows 17 and 19:
Repeat Row 15.

Row 21:
Slip the first edge stitch, then work each 11-stitch repeat as follows:
k2tog, knit 2, yarn over, knit 3, yarn over, knit 3, SKPSSO.
Repeat across the row, finishing with a knit edge stitch.

Row 23:
Slip the first edge stitch, then work each 11-stitch repeat as follows:
k2tog, knit 1, yarn over, knit 5, yarn over, knit 1, SKPSSO.
Repeat across the row. Finish with a knit edge stitch.

Row 25:
Slip the edge stitch knitwise without working it, then repeat the following 11-stitch sequence:
k2tog, yarn over, knit 7, yarn over, SKPSSO.
Repeat across the row, finishing with a knit edge stitch.

Row 27:
Slip the edge stitch knitwise without working it, then repeat the following 11-stitch sequence:
k2tog, yarn over, knit 3, SKPSSO, knit 4, yarn over.
Repeat across the row. Finish with a knit edge stitch.

From Row 29 onwards:
Repeat the sequence from Rows 1 to 28 until the desired length is reached.

Chart of the Lace Petal Knitting Stitch

To make the knitting even easier and more visual, here is the complete chart of the stitch pattern, with a clear legend and symbols.

Inspiration for Using the Petal Stitch

Often we fall in love with a stitch… but don’t know where to use it!
Here are some ideas for creating elegant and lightweight garments using this stitch (or similar lace patterns):

• Lightweight skirts – perfect for summer, with lace inserts
• Beach cover-ups – great to wear over your swimsuit
• Lace tops – fresh, soft, and feminine
• Stoles or shawls – perfect for the evening