Butterick's Ball Stitch by Vicki Monthei

Butterick's Ball Stitch

Knitting
July 2023
Thread ?
8.5 stitches and 10 rows = 1 inch
in ball stitch - blocked
US 2 - 2.75 mm
NA
English
This pattern is available as a free Ravelry download

Ready for crazy? Here’s something I’ve never done before: pushing a skein of thread or yarn THROUGH the stitch just made and dropping it from the needle! From 1902 Butterick Publishing’s Fancy and Practical Knitting, page 5, there are only 4 pattern rows but this pattern needs a little concentration to make sure your thread/yarn doesn’t snarl and you don’t lose yarn overs when working the ball stitch. Use a non-hairy, smooth thread/yarn for this pattern. Making a swatch is recommended.
Skills needed: long-tail cast on, knit, purl, yarn over, make 3 stitches out of 1 stitch (k1-p1-k1 in 1 stitch), knit 5 stitches together (or k2tog, k3tog, PSSO) and bind off in knit stitch.

Gauge is not important in this pattern. Any block-able smooth yarn/thread will work. Make a swatch to check size and appearance.

8 yards of #10 crochet cotton thread will make 15 rows by 34 stitches in the stated gauge.