Friday, April 24, 2009

15. Narrow Edging

"Narrow Edging" features eyelets along the upper edge, a row of very large eyelets below and a saw-tooth lower edge. The stitch count increases from 5 to 9 in the first row and the added stitches are bound off in the last row of the 4-row repeat.



You can download the full-size chart, verbal instructions and notes here.

This pattern is another from a newspaper clipping, contributed to the paper by a certain "Mrs. L. McW."

Next week: English Point

Friday, April 17, 2009

14. Another Insertion

"Another Insertion" is a chevron motif stockingnet panel with ladder eyelet borders in garter stitch along the sides. The pattern is worked over 13 stitches with an 8-row repeat.



You can download the full-size chart, verbal instructions and notes here.

Next time: Narrow Edging

Friday, April 10, 2009

13. Shell Pattern

"Shell Pattern" is my personal favorite thus far. Triangles of large eyelets separate the shell motifs, which are edged with dainty eyelets. The stitch count rises from 15 to 25 and returns to the original number in the final row of the 16-row repeat. The bind-off is different than we have seen to date (noted on the chart with an asterisk). After 11 stitches of R16 are worked, the first 10 are slipped over the 11th one at a time before continuing with the remainder of the row. The result is a very pleasing cupped effect, adding dimension and elegance to the design.



You can download the full-size chart, verbal instructions and notes here.

Next week: Another Insertion

Friday, April 3, 2009

12. Tunician Lace

"Tunician Lace" is a garter stitch edging featuring faggoting along the upper edge and a diamond motif. Although the stitch count varies from 15 to 20 and back down again, the lower edge does not form a scallop or saw-tooth design. Because the increased stitches are bound off inside of the edge, the bottom of the border remains a straight line below a row of somewhat triangular eyelets formed by the bound-off stitches.



You can download the full-size chart, verbal instructions and notes here.

Knitted lace can be classified in two groups: 1) designs of pattern rows alternating with plain knit or purl rows and 2) designs of all pattern rows. This pattern is the first we have seen that falls squarely in the latter category. (Although many of the previous patterns have had a bit of patterning on the wrong side rows, it has been confined to secondary features such as faggoting along the top, and not related to the main motif of the lace.) The result is less roundness to the eyelets and a more spidery effect-- the yarn overs appear as straight lines of single threads connecting the solid areas. In Creating Original Hand-knitted Lace, Margaret Stove writes that "it is generally accepted" that the term lace knitting refers to alternating-pattern-row designs, while knitted lace is reserved for all-pattern-row designs.

Well. Ah... hmm.

Although I agree with the need for terminology distinguishing between the two structures, I can't help but question the usefulness of this choice. "Lace knitting" vs. "knitted lace" strikes me as far too arbitrary (and, therefore, hard to remember which is which) to serve the purpose. Maybe something along the lines of all-pattern knitted lace and alternating-pattern knitted lace? A little cumbersome, perhaps, but at least they get the idea across. Help me out here. Any ideas for what we can call these things?

Next time: Shell Pattern