Lace work doesn't have to be hard or
complex to be attractive.
Here are 2 patterns for simple
laces—spread over 2 post.
Both swatches were knit in worsted
weight, on a size 9/5.5 mm needle, but both of these lace works well
in fine yarns, too. The first example is a lace based on garter
stitch, the second example is a lace based on ribbing. Here is a side
by side image—both swatches are knit over 27 stitches.
The garter stitch compacts
horizontally, the ribbed lace compacts vertically—Just as garter
and ribbing do, with out lace. The garter lace swatch is actually
about 10 rows longer than the ribbed lace.
Both laces are great for beginners, or
for learning lace. The first lace only needs these skills:
Knitting
Purling
K2tog (Knit 2 stitches together)
YO (Yarn over)
Here—is the first lace. In the
swatch, I worked some rows of garter as a foundation, which is a good
idea for this lace.
Cast on an Odd number of stitches.
I cast on 27 for the swatch—any cast on is suitable; I used long tail.
Right side: R1—Knit (every stitch)
R2--Purl(every
stitch)
Right side: R3—Knit (every stitch)
R4—Knit (every stitch)
Right side: R5--K1, *YO, K2tog, (repeat
from * across the row),
R6—Knit (every stitch)--Treat the yarn over as a stitch.
Repeat these 6 rows, as many times as
desired, end with R1, R2 and R3.
After the first repeat, it won't be
hard to keep track of which is right side, and which is the wrong
side.
The classic name for this lace is
BEADING—and it can be uses as a single row of beading—1 repeat—or
several. It can be used as a border, or as an over all design.
There are many variation of Beading
Lace. The number of rows of stocking knit between the BEADING can be
increased, (see link/sample below) or eliminated--as in this scarf-(Rows
1, 2 and 3 are all
knit)
Beading is often uses as lace on baby's
and infants clothing. Narrow ribbons can be threaded through the
eyelet opening—Classically, beading on a white baby sweater was
threaded with pink or blue ribbon to indicate a boy or a girl.
The pattern is almost, but not quite
garter (just 1 row of purl in every 6 row repeat.) It's close enough
to garter that the fabric is stable (i.e., it won't curl) –but it
does, (as garter does) compact (row wise)--but like garter it
stretches out, too—especially on something large –like a long
scarf, or when used in a blanket.
When more rows of stocking knit are
added between the lace element (5 to 9 rows, instead of just 3) the fabric behaves
more and more like stocking knit (and will have a tendency to curl).
A side border of garter stitch (3 to 7 stitches on each side ) can be
added for a neater edge, and more stability. I knit this over sized shawl long ago (9? 10 years?) it's an example of an over all
beading pattern—there are 7 rows of stocking knit between each set
of beading. (It's also 3 camera's ago, and not a very clear or crisp an
image!)
An excellent simple scarf could be
made with this recipe:
6 rows of garter stitch,
6 to 10 repeats of the lace, (with or
with out a 3 stitch garter border)+ rows 1, 2, 3 of pattern.
a center of garter, (optional!)
a matching number of rows of the lace
pattern repeated,+ rows 1, 2, 3 of pattern
6 rows of garter,
and bind off.
You could use the “recipe” to
design your own scarf: You decide the yarn, the color, the
width,(number of stitches to cast on, and whether or not to add a
garter stitch edging), the number of repeats of the lace pattern, whether or not to have the entire scarf as lace, or just to have a lace border at either end, and
the over all length.
Thousand of unique designs could be made from this basic recipe.
Thousand of unique designs could be made from this basic recipe.
The V shaped scarf linked to above is
slightly fancier than the basic recipe, but still shows how pretty
this pattern can be.
I have also knit a shawl with this
basic lace pattern—my Double Delight. This version, like the
swatch was knit with worsted weight yarn –but in the case of the
shawl, the yarn was hand spun silk.
All of these examples serve to show,
lace doesn't always have to be knit on tiny needles and with fine
yarn to look beautiful. Nor does it have to be very hard to learn or to knit. Worsted weight yarns, (the over sized shawl is made from
Lion Brand Homespun—a chunky yarn!) are fine for many lace
patterns.
