Knitting Stitch: Lace Zig Zag Stitch

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With its wavy lines, the Lace Zig Zag Stitch is a knitting stitch that creates a vertical design of parallel wavy lines that look like strokes of a painting brush. Little holes are also alternating in rows on the curved sections of the wavy ribs.

The groups of stitches that form each vertical rib are swinging from left to right throughout the pattern. For the knitting newbies who have not come across any fancy knitting stitch pattern yet, you’re about to read one now! You’ll see how fun it is to give the stitches the direction you want them to follow by using different kinds of decreasing techniques, that are generally used to eliminate stitches as you proceed with your work, in a way that the width narrows down.

If you pair each decrease (eliminating one stitch) with an increase (adding one stitch anew), the number of stitches and the final width of your work will stay the same at the end of every row. These are the cases, like the Lace Zig Zag Stitch, where increases and decreases are simply used to create designs on your knitted piece.

Let’s see how all these techniques are combined to get this beautiful pattern!

With the Lace Zig Zag Knitting Stitch you will get parallel and wavy ribs with little holes alternating in rows on the curved sections. For its high definition, it is a great stitch for twisted and thin yarns. To knit this stitch, you will need to know the knitting basics, yarn over and decrease stitches.

Lace Zig Zag Stitch

To get a swatch as the one pictured above:

What knitting techniques do you need to know?

  • Knit
  • Purl
  • Yarn over
  • Decrease: SKP (slip-knit-pass over), knit 2 stitches together

Check out our YouTube channel to find many knitting tutorials and much more to practise your stitches 😉

Lace Zig Zag Stitch Tutorial

Cast on a multiple of 8 + 2 stitches.

Row #1:
  • Purl 2 stitches, *knit 6 stitches, purl 2 stitches.*
  • Repeat from * to * until the end of the row.
Row #2 and following even rows:

Work the stitches as they appear: knit on knit stitches, purl on purl stitches and yarn over stitches.

Row #3:
  • Purl 2 stitches, *yarn over, knit 2 stitches, 1 SKP, knit 2 stitches, purl 2 stitches.*
  • Repeat from * to * until the end of the row.
Row #5:
  • Purl 2 stitches, *knit 1 stitch, yarn over, knit 2 stitches, 1 SKP, knit 1 stitch, purl 2 stitches.*
  • Repeat from * to * until the end of the row.
Row #7:
  • Purl 2 stitches, *knit 2 stitches, yarn over, knit 2 stitches, 1 SKP, purl 2 stitches.*
  • Repeat from * to * until the end of the row.
Row #9:
  • Purl 2 stitches, *knit 6 stitches, purl 2 stitches.*
  • Repeat from * to * until the end of the row.
Row #11:
  • Purl 2 stitches, *knit 2 stitches, knit 2 stitches together, knit 2 stitches, yarn over, purl 2 stitches.*
  • Repeat from * to * until the end of the row.
Row #13:
  • Purl 2 stitches, *knit 1 stitch, knit 2 stitches together, knit 2 stitches, yarn over, knit 1 stitch, purl 2 stitches.*
  • Repeat from * to * until the end of the row.
Row #15:
  • Purl 2 stitches, *knit 2 stitches together, knit 2 stitches, yarn over, knit 2 stitches, purl 2 stitches.*
  • Repeat from * to * until the end of the row.
Row #17:

Repeat from Row #1.

Lace Zig Zag Stitch Chart

The Lace Zig Zag Knitting Stitch Chart is set up on a multiple of 8 + 2 stitches and a 20-row repetition. If you are a beginner knitter who only mastered the knitting basics, you can practise your yarn over and decrease stitches trying this knitting chart.

Save this stitch on your Pinterest knitting board!

Bettaknit - Lace Zig Zag Knitting Stitch

Let us know in the comment section below what you’re going to knit using this stitch and share your creations on Instagram using the hashtag #bettaknit!

If you like this stitch, check out our Feather and Fan Stitch tutorial!