Larkspur Stitch

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This incredibly beautiful larkspur stitch creates a delicate flower lace that’s hard to stop admiring. If you don’t see it right away, look a second time — there it is, the striking resemblance to the beautiful Mediterranean larkspur flower, its petals reaching upward in a graceful spire.

The larkspur stitch is a moderately easy lace that uses basic decreases and yarn overs to create the floral effect. The 9-row repeat is short enough to memorize quickly, and the results are far more impressive than the effort required.

Pattern Details

Skill level: 2/4 Pattern repeat: Multiple of 15 + 2 edge stitches Row repeat: 9 rows

Repeat the pattern between the asterisks until the desired width is reached. Work the right side following the instructions below. Purl all stitches on the wrong side (even rows).

Row-by-Row Instructions

Row 1: edge st, * k5, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, (sl1 kwise, k next st, psso), k5 * repeat to last stitch, edge st

Row 2 and all even rows: Purl all stitches

Row 3: edge st, * k4, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, (sl1 kwise, k next st, psso), k4 * repeat to last stitch, edge st

Row 5: edge st, * k2, (k2tog) x2, yo, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1, yo, (sl1 kwise, k next st, psso) x2, k2 * repeat to last stitch, edge st

Row 7: edge st, * k1, k2tog, k3, yo, k3, yo, k3, (sl1 kwise, k next st, psso), k1 * repeat to last stitch, edge st

Row 9: edge st, * k2tog, k3, yo, k5, yo, k3, (sl1 kwise, k next st, psso) * repeat to last stitch, edge st

Repeat rows 1 through 9 to continue the pattern.

Abbreviations

  • k — knit
  • yo — yarn over
  • k2tog — knit 2 together
  • sl1 kwise — slip 1 stitch knitwise
  • psso — pass slipped stitch over
  • (k2tog) x2 — knit 2 together, twice in a row
  • edge st — edge stitch

Tips for This Pattern

Row 5 is the most complex row, with double decreases on each side and four yarn overs in the center. Take it slowly the first time through and count your stitches at the end of the row — you should have the same number you started with.

The larkspur flower shape really emerges after blocking. Don’t judge the pattern by how it looks on the needles — it will open up beautifully once you wet-block the finished piece.

Use stitch markers between each 15-stitch repeat. This makes it easy to spot errors within each flower motif before they cascade through the row.

Project Ideas

The larkspur stitch lends itself to elegant, feminine projects:

  • Summer shawls — the open lace is perfect for warm-weather wraps
  • Table runners — knit in cotton for a stunning dining table centerpiece
  • Scarf panels — a single repeat width creates a beautiful narrow scarf
  • Lace inserts — add a band of larkspur between stockinette panels on a garment
  • Baby blanket borders — a few rows of larkspur add delicate charm

Recommended Supplies

Best yarn choice: Light-colored yarn in fingering or lace weight shows off the flower motifs best. A merino-silk blend gives gorgeous drape and sheen. Cotton or cotton-linen blends work well for homeware projects like table runners.

Needles: US 4 (3.5mm) for fingering weight, US 2 (2.75mm) for lace weight. Sharp-tipped needles make the double decreases in Row 5 much smoother.

Crochet Adaptation

While the larkspur stitch is traditionally a knitting pattern, its openwork structure translates beautifully to crochet. The petal-like motif can be recreated using chain spaces and clusters to mimic the yarn-over lace effect. A dedicated crochet version of this pattern with full stitch-by-stitch instructions is coming soon — stay tuned!

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