Openwork and Lace Stitches. Free lace knitting stitches by Knitting Bee.
Creating knitting stitches with a lacy effect requires you to master just a few moves!
Yarn Over (stitch increase)
The first stitch is the Yarn Over (yo), which is simply a strand of yarn laid across the right needle which creates a new stitch.
To create this:
1 – Bring the yarn to the front between the needles. If the last stitch was a purl then the yarn is already in the front.
2 – Take the yarn over the top of the right needle
3 – Bring the working yarn to where it needs to be in order to work the next stitch.
Decreases
Knit 2 Together (k2tog):
The right needle goes through both the second and first stitch on the left needle and the new loop is pulled through both stitches (creating one stitch out of two). This puts the second stitch on top of the first making the stitch look like it is slanting to the right. therefore, it is a right leaning decrease.
Slip, knit, pass stitch over (skp) and slip, slip, knit (ssk):
These are left leaning decreases. Slip knitwise (essential to avoid a crossed stitch). Both decreases produce the same result.
skp
ssk
Continue below for all our free lace knitting stitches!
Diamond Cable Lace Rib Free Knit Stitch. This stitch balances strength and lightness. Compact cables frame delicate yarn-overs, creating a diamond-like rhythm that feels both structured and open. The ribbed background keeps everything grounded, while the lace adds lift. It’s a confident stitch—ideal for sweaters, scarves, and statement panels where texture and detail work together.…
The Small Lace Zigzag stitch is a light and airy lace pattern that creates a gentle zigzag effect across your fabric. Alternating knit stitches with simple decreases and yarn overs, it forms small openwork eyelets that produce a subtle wave-like texture. The pattern is worked over a multiple of 6 stitches plus 4, with rows…
Free Knitting Stith for Chinese Lantern. The Chinese Lantern stitch is a beautiful, textured knitting pattern that creates a fabric with a unique, almost woven appearance. It’s named for the resemblance of the raised, elongated stitches to the shape of traditional Chinese lanterns. This Chinese Lantern stitch pattern is a beautiful and intricate design that…
Free Knitting Stith for a Lace Cable. This pattern creates a fabric with a combination of lace and cable elements, distributed evenly across the entire surface (hence “all-over”). It features repeating diamond-like shapes formed by the interplay of lace eyelets and a central 6-stitch cable. The pattern is relatively simple, with an 8-row repeat, but…
Lattice Lace Free Knitting Stitch. The Lattice Lace stitch is a knitting pattern that creates an open, airy fabric with a delicate, lattice-like design. The combination of increases and decreases, strategically placed, forms the diagonal lines and open spaces that give the stitch its characteristic lattice appearance. This stitch is well-suited for projects where a…
The Herringbone Lace Rib stitch is a beautiful and relatively simple knitting pattern that combines elements of ribbing, lace, and a slight herringbone texture. The “rib” comes from the alternating knit and purl stitches, creating vertical lines. The “lace” is introduced by the yarn overs (YO) paired with decreases (P2tog), creating small eyelets or holes.…
Ornate Cable Lace Panel Knitting Stitch. This stitch is built like a cathedral. Strong vertical columns anchor the fabric, while lace motifs open and close in a steady rhythm. Cables step forward at key moments, adding structure and drama without overpowering the lace. The result is elegant, architectural, and deeply satisfying to knit—ideal for heirloom…
Skill Level: Easy Lace Here is a fun original knitting stitch from Knitting Bee! It is a very easy lace stitch with rows of garter stitch to break up the lace. Abbreviations k = knitp = purlyo = yarn overs2kp2 = centered double decrease: slip two stitches together as if to knit, knit 1 stitch,…