Lace Makes A Comeback But In Many New Forms
Lace knitting seems to have regained popularity, but the new lace is not the lightweight, cotton finery of past years. In fact, lace stitches have a more dramatic flair and they are popping up in unexpected fibers, such as the machine-washable chenille in today’s shawl.
Regardless of whether you work with fine cotton or a thicker chenille yarn, the basic concepts are the same. To enjoy knitting lace stitches, you need to know how to form them and the easiest way to follow the instructions. Just understanding a few easy steps will help you greatly.
Lace is formed with a series or pattern of holes in your knitting. These holes are made by making yarnover stitches as you work. Yarnovers are very easy to make. In their simplest form, you just bring the yarn to the front of the work and lay it over the needle. This new stitch will be purled on the next row. Be careful not to drop it off without working it.
You can add these new stitches without adding to the total number of stitches in your piece if you offset them with decrease stitches, such as knit-two-togethers.
Offset decreases slant to the left or right or not at all and reduce your stitch count by one or more stitches. The desired slant is the reason that you will see several types of decreases used in the same lace pattern.
Each time you add a yarnover, you must offset it with some sort of decrease. This is helpful to understand when you are working sweaters that require armhole, neck and shoulder shaping worked in lace stitches.
Decreases and yarnovers can either proceed or follow each other. For example, you can either knit two together, yarnover, or yarnover, knit two together. Both ways offset each other. Follow the instructions given in your pattern.
Most lace patterns are purled on the wrong-side rows. This makes it easier to follow the pattern.
Write down the last row you worked when you leave your knitting. This is much easier than trying to reconstruct which row you finished before you put down your work.
Try to understand the stitches as you work them. In our diamond lace shawl pattern, you can see each diamond form as you work. This practice will help you to avoid errors as you work.
In making our triangular shawl, we increase one stitch at the beginning and end of each wrong-side row. The new stitches are incorporated into the lace pattern on the following row.
If you are not experienced with these kinds of stitches, you may want to begin with a simple project, such as a shawl, scarf or pillow.
If you want to expand your skills, lace knitting is an easy way to create an interesting fabric. Try it out just for fun on an easy yet fashionable shawl made of soft, chic chenille yarn.
The beautiful lace pattern is accented by a tasseled fringe. It’s worked with size 8 needles and measures 65 inches wide.
MEMO: To obtain directions for making the Winter Shawl, send your request for Leaflet No. 122495 with $2 and a long, stamped, self-addressed envelope to: The NeedleWorks, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 419148, Kansas City, MO 64141. Or you may order Kit No. 122495 by sending a check or money order for $26.95 to The NeedleWorks at the same address. Kit price includes shipping charges, full instructions and chenille yarn to complete the project in your choice of denim blue, mulberry or sandstone. For kit orders only, you may call 7 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays at (800) 873-9537.