Dragon Stitch

dragon stitch with varied colours

I've seen lots of beautiful crocheted designs made with Crocodile Stitch. I found I could knit something similar by building up layers of scales with a stocking stitch base. It probably takes twice as long as the original stitch, but it's definitely faster than my learning to crochet.

You will need:

  • yarn
  • two knitting needles

Technique

This stitch forms a fabric that is two or three layers thick. The reverse of the fabric will look like a right side stocking stitch.

dragon stitch reverse

A list of abbreviations is available.

To begin, cast on a multiple of 10 stitches (10sts = 1 scale).

ODD REPEATS

Knit the stocking stitch backing including one reversed row that we will pick up from later.

  1. Row 1: p –
  2. Row 2: k –
  3. Row 3: p –
  4. Row 4: k –
  5. Row 5: k –
  6. Row 6: k –
  7. Row 7: p –

The first set of scales runs edge to edge:

  1. Row 8: [p5, cast on 8, p5], repeat to end.
  2. Row 9:
  3. [sl1, k3, k2tog, k1, kfb, k1, kfb, k2, k2togtbl, k3, turn/
    sl1, p1, p2togtbl, p2, pfb, p1, pfb, p3, p2tog, p1, turn/
    k2tog, k3, kfb, k1, kfb, k4, k2togtbl, sl2], repeat to end.
  4. Row 10: k –

If you are planning to change colour for the next set of scales cast off all stitches completely. If you are planning to continue using the same yarn, cast off until one stitch remains, slip it onto a stitch keeper, and do not cut the yarn.

hold the first section bumps up

Hold the work with the tail of yarn to the right and the recent cast off edge at the top.

You should see a single row of reverse stocking stitch immediately below the shaping for the scales (the grey line in the image above). Working from left to right slip the needle into the top of every stitch along the row. Make sure to include the end stitches. If done correctly the number of stitches on the needle will be the same multiple of 10 you started with.

Either join in your new yarn and knit to the end of the row or knit the reserved stitch together with the first new stitch, then knit to the end of the row.

EVEN REPEATS

Repeat rows 1 to 7 of the previous section.

The scales are worked the same, just off-set by five plain stitches:

  1. Row 8:
  2. p5,
    [p5, cast on 8, p5],
    repeat bracket to last five stitches,
    p5.
  3. Row 9:
  4. k5,
    [sl1, k3, k2tog, k1, kfb, k1, kfb, k2, k2togtbl, k3, turn/
    sl1, p1, p2togtbl, p2, pfb, p1, pfb, p3, p2tog, p1, turn/
    k2tog, k3, kfb, k1, kfb, k4, k2togtbl, sl2]
    repeat bracket to last five stitches,
    k5.
  5. Row 10: k –

Cast off / pick up for the next section exactly as before.

Repeat from the beginning, alternating odd and even repeats until knitting is the desired length. Depending on the edging you want it may be neater to reapeat rows 1 to 7 and cast off for a straight edge.