The bubble stitch creates a fun, textured bubble pattern throughout your work by knitting a stitch from four rows below in various intervals to cinch your work and create the bubble texture. This looks complicated, but you’ll be surprised how much of this stitch pattern is just simple stockinette! It makes this stitch easy to learn and memorize. This is a new stitch to me too and we will be rounding off this KAL with more intermediate to advanced stitches. But, hopefully you have been learning as much as I have through this process and it will feel doable.
Materials Worsted Weight Yarn US size 8 knitting needles Tapestry Needle
Cable Needle Measuring Tape
BUBBLE STITCH
Notes
Remember, there are 4 stitches (2 on each side) for a border around the stitch pattern to seam the squares together at the end.
Gauge
18st x 24r =4 x 4" (10cm)
Tip: pay attention to this, especially if you are modifying the pattern.
Abbreviations
K - Knit
P - Purl
RS - Right side
SL - Slip stitch
WS - Wrong Side
Finished Size
Do NOT measure the stockinette border. This will be used for seaming and shouldn't contribute to the finished size of the sweater.
Sizes are width x length
XS: 13.75 x 7.25 in (35.5 x 19 cm)
S: 14.25 x 7.25 in (36.5 x 18.5 cm)
M: 15 x 7 in (38.5 x 17.5 cm)
L: 16 x 7 in (41 x 18 cm)
XL: 17.5 x 6.75 in (45 x 17 cm)
2X: 19.5 x 6.5 in (50 x 16.5 cm)
3X: 21 x 6 in (53.5 x 15 cm)
4X: 22.5 x 6 in (57.5 x 15 cm)
5X: 23.5 x 5.5 in (60 x 14 cm)
Instructions
Cast on 67 (67, 71, 75, 83) (91, 99, 107, 111) sts
Row 1: Purl across (ws)
Row 2: Knit across (rs)
Repeat rows 1 & 2, two (two, two, two, one) (one, -, -, two) times
Row 3: Purl across
Row 4: Knit Across
Row 5: Purl Across
Row 6: Knit Across
Row 7: Purl Across
Row 8: Knit 2 (seaming border), K3, *Knit 4 Below, K3* and repeat from * to * until 2 stitches remain, K2 (seaming border)
Row 9: Purl Across
Row 10: Knit Across
Row 11: Purl Across
Row 12: Knit Across
Row 13: Purl Across
Row 14: Knit 2 (seaming border), K1, *Knit 4 Below, K3* and repeat from * to * until 4 stitches remain, Knit 4 Below, K1, K2 (seaming border)
Repeat rows 3-14 until you reach 36 (36, 36, 36, 36) (36, 36, 36, 24) rows in bubble pattern or work is ~1/4 inch or 1 cm less than your desired total length.
Repeat rows 1 & 2, three (three, two, two, two) (two, one, one, three) times
Bind off
If you are going to alter the pattern, here is the gauge:
18st x 24r =4 x 4" (10cm)
Plug this into the final equations for the Arm Blocks:
Gauge st x gauge row = 4 x 4 inches
_____ (arm block width) x ( _____Gauge st / 4”) = # sts _____
_____ (arm block length) x ( _____Gauge rows / 4”) = # rows _____
Once you have your stitch and row count, use those numbers in the pattern instructions above.
Still having some trouble?
We have a lot of resources this week.
1) We Are Knitters has bot a written stitch pattern and video for one stop learning.
2) Studio Knits has a good write-up.
3) And Wool & the Gang also has a video in case the other two still have you stumped.
Post this graphic to your social media if you're taking part in the KAL, and use the hashtag #swatchitup21 so we can see your progress.
Check back here next week to learn a new stitch.