Basket weave

Basket weave uses both knit stitch and purl stitch in the same row. It produces a decoratitive effect similar to weaving.

Each row has four stitches of smooth (stocking) then four stitches of knobbly (reverse stocking) alternately. There are several rows similar, to produce the squares. Then the stitches are all changed to produce the other type of square.

In the pattern below, the squares are four rows by four columns each. In fact, I found that you needed more rows than columns to make squares rather than rectangles, as my knitted stitches are wider than they are tall.

Pattern for Basket weave

Basket weave

Other comments

Basket weave looks much the same on both sides, except the squares are offset.

When you mix blocks of smooth (stocking) and knobbly (reverse stocking), there are odd effects. The columns of smooth push themselves towards you, while the columns of knobbly retreat from you. On the other hand, the rows of knobbly come towards you and the rows of smooth retreat. You can see this in garter stitch, where the rows of knobbly hide the smooth, and in ribbing, where the columns of smooth hide the knobbly. And this is true on both sides. Here, the sides of the squares are both columns and rows, so the knobbly pushes itself forwards at the base and top of the squares, while the smooth sides retreat from you. This makes the centre of the smooth squares look closer to you, while the tops and bases disappear under the knobbly. This is exactly what would happen in real weaving of course, but it is weird! Knitting is more 3D than you would think, and not always predicatable.