If Fractured Ice is a crack in the window, Frozen Panes is the whole view, broad, geometric, and quietly architectural. This is a stitch that brings structure to any project, built from the simplest possible elements: knits and purls, arranged in shifting blocks that create a bold checkerboard with a twist.

It’s the kind of stitch that looks intentional from across the room. And it is.

Yarn

Cascade Heritage Fingering in Butter, Pale Peach, and Thistle

Why Frozen Panes Works

The genius of this stitch is in the shift. The first half of the repeat (Rows 1–5) builds one orientation of checks; the second half (Rows 6–10) flips them, so the knit blocks land where the purl blocks were. The result is a pattern that moves. Not just a static grid, but something that feels like it’s breathing.

Row 10 and the subsequent Row 1 are plain stockinette rows, and they’re doing double duty. They act as a soft reset between repeats, giving the eye a moment to rest before the geometry starts again. They’re also where the colors change. Switching colors in plain knit stitches means you avoid that awkward color change showing up in the purl sections. It’s a small detail that makes a big difference in the finished fabric.

In the Knotions colorway, this is where the Butter and Peach relationship really reveals itself. In the stockinette sections they melt together so softly you almost can’t tell them apart, but the moment the purl blocks shift, each color finds its own voice again.

That push and pull between colors that are close in value is something we explored in Year of Color, our free series on color theory for makers. It will change how you choose colors forever. Plus, you get 2 free squares per month.

What to Watch For

• The swatch shown works 8 repeats across 68 stitches, worked flat.
• The stitch count is a multiple of 8, plus 4 edge stitches to balance the pattern on each side.
• Keep your tension even when switching from the knit and purl blocks. Uneven tension is the main thing that can make a check pattern look sloppy.
• Row 10 (plain purl on WS) is easy to miss as a pattern row. Don’t skip it or the blocks won’t shift correctly.
• This stitch has very little curl, making it excellent for scarves, blankets, and any project where you’d normally need a border to lie flat.

How to make the Frozen Panes stitch

Multiple of 8 sts + 4. The swatch shown works 8 repeats (68 sts), worked flat.

Perfect Projects

Frozen Panes is a workhorse stitch that scales beautifully. Use it for blankets and throws where the bold geometry can really breathe, or for scarves and cowls where the non-curling nature is a practical bonus. It also makes a beautiful stitch for bag panels, pillow covers, or the body of a simple pullover. Works well in any weight; the checks get bolder as the yarn gets chunkier. In DK or worsted, this stitch knits up fast and stays endlessly satisfying.

Knotions Design Twist

Try working just one 10-row repeat as a horizontal stripe between sections of stockinette. It reads as a bold architectural band and adds instant interest to an otherwise plain garment. Or use it as an allover texture for a hat, starting the pattern right after the ribbing. The non-rolling nature means the brim will behave beautifully without any extra border work.

About Jill Bickers, our resident Knitting Nerd

Jill Bickers is a full fledged knitting nerd, who can’t seem to stop buying books on fiber history in general and knitting history in particular. Okay, let’s be honest. She can’t seem to stop buying books, period. She is particularly obsessed with socks , lace, and cables.  Her designs can be found on Ravelry as well as Knotions.