Lace Knitting

My first glimpse of knitted lace was a Herbert Niebling doily in Montse Stanley's Knitter's Handbook.  I saw the beauty of nature captured in yarn.  The lace was beautiful as well as geometrically complex, and hinted at a mathematical intricacy.  I was amazed and hoped, someday, to learn the secrets of this amazing skill.

I began knitting lace by 2000, starting with doilies knit in perle cotton.  I learned the basics of lace knitting and many tips: the benefit of markers, how to read lace, estimating size by the number of rows. Lace knitting had been popular with publishers so I was in luck!

Later I discovered Jaggerspun Zephyr yarn, bought a cone, and knit doilies and swatches.  I also took a workshop with Margaret Stove in 2001, a fantastic learning experience.


In 2004 I knit a Shetland-style shawl for my wedding veil.  The pattern was one I designed, using traditional stitch patterns and Gladys Amedro's techniques.  It was my first shawl.  Knitting was still an unusual hobby, especially for a young woman, and it was an unconventional veil.  I was very proud of my work and passed it on to friends with the birth of their daughter.  It should belong to a family.

First shawl

In 2007 I knit a lace stole for an old friend on the birth of her first child.  Again I designed the pattern, choosing the Rose Trellis pattern and a complementary border.  The body pattern was very time consuming because it doesn't use an easily memorized pattern.  It's seamless: the bottom border was knit first, stitches picked up along its inside edge, then the body and borders of the shawl were knit as one.  The top border was knit onto the body to finish.

Second shawl

Knit in mid-late 2010, my next two projects were Dane Shawls by Jane Tanner.  The first was knit with alpaca laceweight yarn.  It was a fun travel project.  I gave it to a dear friend when her father passed away, as a way to give a long distance hug.

The second Dane shawl was in a beautiful copper color, also for a friend.  I have several great projects without photographic documentation because I was so excited to mail them and Seattle has very short days much of the year ;)

In 2011 I fell in love with a skein of Malabrigo lace yarn and knit a wide scarf for myself.  It was inspired by the Sparkling Waves Scarf, widened, with the side border continued top and bottom.  It's tremendously soft and warm so perfect for cold winter days.

 

Next, in early 2012, an Estonian Shawl.  I used a new shawl shape to keep my arms warm and add versatility.  I love the textural and shading variations in the pattern.  I learned a new lace technique along with different ways to look at shaping and stitch use.

This is actually pretty warm to wear, and the 3/4 square shape stays on very well.

Also in spring of 2012 I knit the Good Day Sunshine shawl.  It's perfect as a cowl under a coat.  I eliminated the first two repeats of the first chart, instead knitting a 4 row garter strip, and reduced the density of 3into3 stitches on the same chart.  My Ravelry project page contains the details.

The last two shawls showed me how practical lace can be, and how specialized shaping allows the use of beautiful lace motifs in everyday items.


In early 2014 I knit two Indian Feathers crescent shawls, both gifts.  They helped renew my inspiration for knitting, and specifically lace, after a difficult year.



I look forward to playing with shapes, stitches and design in the future.  And color!