This square was lots of fun to knit and I love the tiny flowers created by knitting into the stitch below. I’m a little conflicted over it though. The perfectionist in me wants to rip it and knit a better one now that I understand how the stitch pattern is worked, but the part of me that appreciates the visible evidence of the learning process likes the square as it is. You can see from the photo of the entire square (as much of it as my scanner will capture anyway) the progression of my proficiency with this stitch pattern. At the bottom, near the cast on, my stitches are rather clumsy and undefined. Suddenly, near the middle of the square the rose that gives this stitch pattern it’s name appears.
Sticks & string can be so magical. Since this is a sampler afghan I believe I’ll follow in the needlework tradition and keep this version of the square for my afghan to show the learning process.
The fabric this stitch pattern creates is one of the stretchiest I’ve ever knit. Stretchier than rib or twisted rib, but without the cling when relaxed. The roses do deform when it’s stretched widely, but they reappear when the tension is released. This would be a really good fabric to use for just about any garment you expected to wear while being active, or something you wanted to be form fitting without being binding. If you don’t want sweet little flowers all over your garment just knit it in one color and they’ll fade into the background.
