3 Lace Edgings from Mlle R de B (Stitches in Time) : Knitty Spring+Summer 2010

by Franklin Habit

For almost as long as I’ve been a knitter, I’ve been fascinated by the history of knitting. I’ve especially enjoyed the mind-twisting process of working with the often obtuse and obfuscatory language of antique patterns. There’s a thrill, I find, in watching a project emerge row by row and knowing that other knitters, long gone, followed the same path.

The process of decoding, testing and correcting isn’t for everyone, though; and so in this column I hope to share the excitement of the journey by removing as many of the roadblocks as possible. You don’t need to be a historian to come along–just a knitter with a curious mind.

translated by Franklin Habit from Knitting, Crochet and Netting (1846) by Eléonore Riego de la Branchardière

Scollop

Treble Diamond

Point Lace

photos: Franklin Habit

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Will vary according to yarn and needles employed. Single repeats of the models shown (knit with materials indicated below) measure as follows:
Scollop Lace: 2.25 inches long x 1.5 inches wide
Treble Diamond Lace: 1 inch long x 1 inch wide
Point Lace: 1.25 inches long x 2 inches wide

MATERIALS
Yarn
DMC Coton Perlé 12 [100% cotton; 131yd/120m per 10g ball]; color: White/Blanc; 1 ball
Note: Quantity needed will vary according to pattern chosen and length of desired edging. All samples shown were knit with less than 1 ball. When selecting a yarn, keep in mind that these edgings were designed for slender thread and will look their very best when worked at fine gauges. Don't be afraid to go small–your fortitude will be rewarded.

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 set US 0/2 mm straight needles

GAUGE

40 sts / 48 rows = 4” in stockinette stitch (unblocked, because let’s not kid ourselves)

PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

Yarnover at beginning of row: To work a yo as the first stitch in a row, wrap the working yarn over the needle from front to back, then work the next stitch as directed. The little loops thus created along the outer edge of the piece will look especially pretty if you take care to open them up during blocking.

K3tog: Knitting 3 sts together is Mlle Branchardière’s standard double decrease. It’s also a gigantic pain in the kazoo when using fine cotton thread and/or less-than-sharp needles. If you choose to substitute another double decrease, I promise not to tell anybody. I find slipping the first st, knitting the next 2 sts together, then passing the slipped st over them to be quite satisfactory.

Information about blocking lace can be found here and here.

DIRECTIONS

TREBLE DIAMOND EDGING
CO 7 sts.

Row 1 [RS]: K1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k1.

Even-Numbered Rows 2-12 [WS]: Yo, k2tog, k to end.

Row 3 [RS]: K2, yo, k3, yo, k2. 9 sts.

Row 5 [RS]: K1, k2tg, yo, k3tog, yo, k1, yo, k2.

Row 7 [RS]: K1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, k3, yo, k2. 11 sts.

Row 9 [RS]: K2, yo, k3, yo, k3tog, yo, k2tog, k1.

Row 11 [RS]: K1, k2tog, [yo, k3tog] twice, k2tog. 7 sts.

Repeat Rows 1-12 until edging is desired length. See finishing directions below.

SCOLLOP EDGING
CO 8 sts.

Odd-Numbered Rows 1-27 [RS]: K3, yo, k2tog, k to end.

Row 2 [WS]: K2, yo, k3, yo, k2tog, k1. 9 sts.

Row 4 [WS]: K2, yo, k2tog, yo, k2, yo, k2tog, k1. 10 sts.

Row 6 [WS]: K2, yo, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, k2tog, k1. 11 sts.

Row 8 [WS]: K2, [yo, k2tog] twice, yo, k2, yo, k2tog, k1. 12 sts.

Row 10 [WS]: K2, [yo, k2tog] twice, yo, k3, yo, k2tog, k1. 13 sts.

Row 12 [WS]: K2, [yo, k2tog] three times, yo, k2, yo, k2tog, k1. 14 sts.

Row 14 [WS]: K2, [yo, k2tog] three times, yo, k3, yo, k2tog, k1. 15 sts.

Row 16 [WS]: K2, k2tog, [yo, k2tog] three times, k2, yo, k2tog, k1. 14 sts.

Row 18 [WS]: K2, k2tog, [yo, k2tog] three times, k1, yo, k2tog, k1. 13 sts.

Row 20 [WS]: K2, k2tog, [yo, k2tog] twice, k2, yo, k2tog, k1. 12 sts.

Row 22 [WS]: K2, k2tog, [yo, k2tog] twice, k1, yo, k2tog, k1. 11 sts.

Row 24 [WS]: K2, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k2, yo, k2tog, k1. 10 sts.

Row 26 [WS]: K2, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k1, yo, k2tog, k1. 9 sts.

Row 28 [WS]: K2tog, k2tog, yo, k2, yo, k2tog, k1. 8 sts.

Repeat Rows 1-28 until edging is desired length. See finishing directions below.

POINT LACE EDGING
CO 15 sts.

Row 1 [RS]: K2, yo, k2tog, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k3. 17 sts.

Row 2 [WS]: Yo, k2tog, k1, yo, k3, yo, k3tog, yo, k3, yo, k2tog, k1, yo, k2tog. 18 sts.

Row 3 [RS]: K2, [yo, k2tog] twice, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k2, yo, k4. 19 sts.

Row 4 [WS]: Yo, k2tog, k2, [yo, k2tog, yo, k3tog, yo, k1] twice, k1, yo, k2tog.

Row 5 [RS]: K2, [yo, k2tog] twice, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k2. 20 sts.

Row 6 [WS]: Yo, k2tog, k1, [yo, k3, yo, k3tog] twice, yo, k3, yo, k2tog. 21 sts.

Row 7 [RS]: K2, yo, k2tog, [k2tog, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k1] twice, k1, yo, k2tog, k2.

Row 8 [WS]: Yo, k2tog, [k1, yo, k2tog, yo, k3tog, yo] twice, k1, yo, k2tog, k2, yo, k2tog.

Row 9 [RS]: Work as for Row 7.

Row 10 [WS]: Yo, k2tog, k2tog, [yo, k3tog, yo, k3] twice yo, k2tog, k1, yo, k2tog. 20 sts.

Row 11 [RS]: K2, yo, k2tog, [yo, k2tog, k1, k2tog, yo, k1] twice, k2tog, k2. 19 sts.

Row 12 [WS]: Yo, k2tog, k2tog, [yo, k2tog, yo, k3tog, yo, k1] twice, k1, yo, k2tog. 18 sts.

Row 13 [RS]: K2, [yo, k2tog] twice, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, [yo, k2tog, k2] twice.

Row 14 [WS]: Yo, k2tog, k2tog, [yo, k3tog, yo, k3] twice, yo, k2tog. 17 sts.

Row 15 [RS]: K2, yo, k2tog, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k3. 16 sts.

Row 16 [WS]: Yo, k2tog, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k3tog, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k2, yo, k2tog. 15 sts.

Repeat Rows 1-16 until edging is desired length. See finishing directions below.

FINISHING
When desired length is reached, loosely BO all sts; use a needles 1-2 sizes larger than working neede to achieve a loose BO edge
Wet block firmly. When dry, weave in ends.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Franklin Habit is a knitter, writer, illustrator and photographer who lives in Chicago when he’s not on the road cajoling other knitters into playing with lace weight yarn.

His first book, It Itches: A Stash of Knitting Cartoons, is available from Interweave Press.

Visit his blog at the-panopticon.blogspot.com.