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Bell Pattern for a Counterpane

Swatch of the bell pattern for a counterpane

Swatch of the bell pattern for a counterpane.This pattern would traditionally be knit using white fingering – dk weight cotton.
The sample swatch was knit using dk weight wool and 4mm needles.

Pattern

Abbreviations

K = knit
P = purl
K2tog = knit two together
Sl1 = slip one
SSK = slip two stitches, one at a time, return them to the left hand needle and knit them together
PSSO = pass the slipped stitch over

(This includes the edge stitches in the row-by-row instructions)
Cast on any number of stitches that can be evenly divisible by 4
1st row: *P4, Cast on 6; repeat from * to last 4 stitches, p4
2nd row: K4, *p7, k3; repeat from * to the end of the row
3rd row: *P3, SSK, k3, k2tog; repeat from * to last 4 stitches, p4
4th row: K4, *p5, k3; repeat from * to the end of the row
5th row: *P3, ssk, k1, k2tog; repeat from * to last 4 sts, p4
6th row: K4, *p3, k3; repeat from * to the end of the row
7th row: *P3, sl1, k2tog, psso; repeat from * to last 4 sts, p4
8th row: Knit
Rows 1-8 form the pattern. Repeat for desired length.

This pattern is very pretty done in vertical strips, cast on 48 stitches for each strip.

For a narrow strip to join the bell patterned strips, work as follows:
Cast on 12 stitches and work 6 rows stocking stitch
7th row: K3, place 3 sts on a cable needle and hold at the back of the work, k3, k3 from the cable needle, k3
8th row: Purl
Repeat these 8 rows for the desired length, making sure that the bell patterned strips and the cabled strips contain the same number of rows.