Lace Knitting
Lace knitting combines yarn overs and decreases to create sheer, decorative holes in the fabric, forming intricate openwork patterns.
Explanation
Lace knitting is a technique combining yarn overs with decreases such as k2tog, ssk, or central double decreases to create deliberate holes and patterns in the fabric, while keeping the stitch count stable. Patterns range from simple, scattered eyelets to complex floral and leaf motifs requiring careful stitch counting each round. Lace truly comes into its own after blocking, as damp stretching opens up the holes and makes the pattern crisp. Using stitch markers between pattern repeats makes it much easier to keep track.
Also known as: Lace, Openwork
Yarn overs and decreases in pairs
Lace is built on pairing every yarn over, which makes a hole and adds a stitch, with a decrease that removes one. The stitch count therefore stays constant even as the fabric fills with holes.
Which decrease is used determines which way the lines of holes lean — and that is what forms the leaves, waves and diamonds of the pattern.
A lifeline is not optional
Lace is nearly impossible to rip back in a controlled way, because the yarn overs vanish as soon as the stitches loosen. A lifeline threaded through a full row at regular intervals is the only realistic insurance.
The pattern also looks crumpled and unreadable until it is blocked. Do not judge the work before it has been stretched out and dried.
Common mistakes
- Knitting lace without a lifeline.
- Judging the pattern before blocking, while the holes are still closed.
Keywords
- lace knitting
- openwork
- eyelet pattern
Frequently asked questions
Why does my lace look like a mess?
Because it has not been blocked. Lace looks crumpled until it is stretched out and dried.
What is a lifeline?
A fine thread run through all the stitches of a row. If you have to rip back, the unravelling stops there and you get the stitches safely back on the needle.