calla cami by carrie bostick hoge |
gemini by jane richmond |
Quill by Jared Flood |
1) every item made with lace shares either of these attributes:
garter stitch - knitting every row. garter stitch looks the same on either side.
stockinette stitch - knit one row, purl one row alternated. there is a definite right and wrong side to your work.
2) how and when you use your increases and decreases:
every row - increasing/decreasing (knitted lace)
every other row - increasing/decreasing (lace knitting)
spring garden tee by alana dakos |
but how do you do all the stitches needed for lace? well there are many different types of increases and decreases. yarn overs and decreases in essence create lace. you can't have one without the other. they rely on each other to create the "lace pattern" but are independent of each other at the same time.
sanderling by sandi rosner |
yarn over (YO): simply do as written. when knitting bring your yarn forward (kind of like you're getting ready to purl) and then bring it over your needle to the back of your work again. continue on knitting. easiest increase evah! click here to see it done.
continental knitting - YO
english knitting - YO
candewick by christa giles |
what kinds of decreases are there?
you can find a ton of decreases, their explanations and videos on how to do them here. my faves are the following:
knit two together (K2TOG)(right slanting decrease): knit 2 stitches together as if you were to knit one stitch (bring your needle knit wise into your next two stitches on your left hand needle and knit as you normally would). Click below to watch the videos:
continental knitting - K2TOG
english knitting - K2TOG
andslip slip knit (SSK)(left slanting decrease: slip one stitch and then slip the next stitch. take your left needle and insert it into the front loops of the stitches you just slipped and knit them together (through the back loops). Click below to watch the videos:
continental knitting - SSK
english knitting - SSK
you can also read more on knitting stitches & get a big rundown on them in last years summer sweater knit along "where my stitches at" post as well. all in all i think lace rocks! c'mon you know you wanna try it...all the cool kids are doing it...lol. nothing like some good ol' crafty peer pressure to get you to try something new right? j/k but i do love lace. i find it fun. it's not mindless knitting, but maybe that's what i love about it. i like a challenge but don't get me wrong i like me some straight knitting as well. i'm a gabber mouth so it's impossible for me to knit an intricate lace pattern and chat with my gals at knit night. lace is one of those projects where you can work with your mind and your hands and enjoy that special little mystery you're making with two sticks and some yarn.....
laresca by corrina ferguson |
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