VINE LACE

Stitch of the Month - November 2016

The vine lace is a lovely stitch that is worked over a four-row pattern repeat. There is only one nine-stitch pattern repeat to memorize and which is staggered over two rows of lace pattern.

The edging also has a scalloped edge. I found that the edge still curled slightly but not as dramatically as stockinette stitch and laid flat after blocking.

Vine Lace
(Multiples of 9 stitches + 4)
Row 1  Purl
Row 2 - (RS) - K3, *yo, k2, ssk, k2tog, k2, yo, k1; repeat from * to last st, k1.
Row 3 - Purl
Row 4 - K2, *yo, k2, ssk, k2tog, k2, yo, k1; repeat from * to last 2 sts, k2.
(These 4 rows form the Vine Lace stitch pattern)

CANDLE FLAMES

Stitch of the Month - October 2016

The Candle Flame stitch pattern is worked against a reverse stockinette background where the candle flames seems to be raised from the fabric much like a cable stitch. The pattern is worked over a multiple of 12 stitches that are increased and decreased over 24 rows; only count stitches on 12th and 24th rows.

This is an absolutely beautiful stitch pattern that looks wonderful in a scarf or shawl.

Candle Flames
(Multiples of 12 stitches + 2)
Row 1 - *P2, yo, k1, yo, p2, k2, k2tog, k3; end p2.
Row 2 - *K2, p6, k2, p3; end k2.
Row 3 - *P2, k1, (yo, k1) twice, p2, k2, k2tog, k2; end p2.
Row 4 - *(K2, p5) twice; k2.
Row 5 - *p2, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, p2, k2, k2tog, k1; end p2.
Row 6 - *K2, p4, k2, p7; end k2.
Row 7 - *P2, k3, yo, k1, yo, k3, p2, k2, k2tog; end p2.
Row 8 - *k2, p3, k2, p9; end k2.
Row 9 - *P2, k2, k2tog, k5, p2, k1, k2tog; end p2.
Row 10 -*K2, p2, k2, p8; end k2.
Row 11 - *P2, k2, k2tog, k4, p2, k2tog; end p2.
Row 12 - *k2, p1, k2, p7; end k2.
Row 13 - *P2, k2, k2tog, k3, p2, yo, k1, yo; end p2.
Row 14 - *K2, p3, k2 p6; end k2.
Row 15 - *P2, k2, k2tog, k2, p2, (k1, yo) twice, k1; end p2.
Row 16 - *(K2, p5) twice, end k2.
Row 17 - *P2, k2, k2tog, k1, p2, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2; end p2.
Row 18 - *K2, p7, k2, p4; end k2 .
Row 19 - *P2, k2, k2tog, p2, k3, yo, k1, yo, k3; end p2.
Row 20 - *K2, p9, k2, p3; end k2.
Row 21 - *P2, k1, k2tog, p2, k2, k2tog, k5; end p2.
Row 22 - *K2, p8, k2, p2; end k2.
Row 23 - *P2, k2tog, p2, k2, k2tog, k4; end p2.
Row 24 - *K2, p7, k2, p1; end k2.
(These 24 rows form the Candle Flames Stitch Pattern)

LACY ZIGZAG STITCH

STITCH OF THE MONTH - January 2016
The Lacy Zigzag is a feminine stitch pattern that combines a zigzagging wave of stockinette stitch eyelet stitches. This pretty pattern would be lovely worked in a scarf, accessories or as a lace inset panel.  

Lacy Zig Zag
(Multiples of 6 sts + 3)

Row 1 (RS)   K1, *skp, k2, yo, k2; repeat from * to last st, k2

Row 2           Purl

Repeat rows 1 and 2 twice.

Row 7           K4, *yo, k2, k2tog; k2; repeat from * to last 5 sts; yo, k2, k2tog, k1.
Row 8           Purl

Repeat rows 7 and 8 twice.

These 12 rows form the Lazy Zigzag stitch pattern.

Abbreviations

K2tog - knit 2 together

RS - right side

Skp - slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over

Yo - yarn over

TRAVELLING VINE LACE

Stitch of the Month - December 2015
The Travelling Vine Lace stitch is a lovely stitch with lovely waves of lace travelling up the fabric.

After working an odd row (RS), there are multiples of 9 stitches. Therefore, only count your stitches after working an even (WS) row.

Travelling Vine Stitch
(Multiples of 8 sts + 2)

Row 1 (RS)	K1, *yf, K1tbl, yf, k2tog tbl, k5; rep from * to last st, k1.
Row 2	P5, *p2tog tbl, p7; rep from * to last 6 sts, p2tog tbl, p4.
Row 3	K1, *yf, K1tbl, yf, k2, k2tog tbl, k3; rep from * to last st, k1.
Row 4	P3, *p2tog tbl, p7; rep from * to last 8 sts, p2tog tbl, p6.
Row 5	K1, *K1tbl, yf, k4, k2tog tbl, k1, yf; rep from * to last st, k1.
Row 6	P2, *p2tog tbl, p7; rep to end.
Row 7	K6, *k2tog, yf, k1tbl, yf, k5; rep from * to last 4 sts, k2tog, yf, k1tbl, yf, k1.
Row 8	P4, *p2tog, p7; rep to last 7 sts, p2tog, p5.
Row 9	K4, *k2tog, k2, yf, k1tbl, yf, k3; rep from * to last 6 sts, k2tog, k2, yf, k1tbl, yf, k1.
Row 10	P6, *p2tog, p7; rep to last 5 sts, p2tog, p3.

Abbreviations
k1tbl - knit 1 through back loop
k2tog - knit 2 stitches together
k2tog tbl - knit 2 stitches together through back loops
p2tog - purl 2 stitches together
p2tog tbl - purl 2 stitch together through back loops
rep - repeat
rs - right side
st(s) - stitch(es)
ws - wrong side

RIDGED LACE STITCH

Stitch of the Month - September 2015

The Ridged Lace stitch pattern creates a vertical ribbed mesh design that has a lovely texture of mesh against textured raised ridges. It's worked in a simple two stitch and two row pattern repeat. 

The stitch pattern would look great used in hats and scarves or on edgings instead of ribbing.

Ridged Lace
(Multiples of 2 stitches)
Row 1 (RS)  K1, *yo, k2tog tbl; repeat from * to last st, k1.
Row 2  P1, *yo, p2tog,; repeat from * to last st, p1.
These 2 rows form the Ridged Lace stitch pattern.

Abbreviations
k2tog tbl - Knit 2 stitches together through back loops
p2tog - Purl 2 stitch together
RS - right side

FROST FLOWERS

Stitch of the Month - January 2015

Frost Flowers is a beautiful lace pattern that can be found in numerous stitch dictionaries under an assortment of names including Spanish Lace and Shooting Star. According to Barbara Walker, Frost flowers is ...an old pattern, dating from at least the early nineteenth century. 

The lace looks quite intricate when worked as an all-over stitch pattern but looks equally stunning when featured as inset panel. The pattern looks complicated but is rather quite easy. It's worked over a four-row pattern repeated twice and then a second four-row pattern repeated twice.

I have a special fondness for this stitch pattern. When I was about 16 years old, I bought some beautiful turquoise yarn and I designed a knee-length pullover working Frost Flowers as an all-over lace pattern with a ribbed turtle-neck collar. That was the first time that I was commissioned to knit a garment for someone else after they had seen my sweater. I loved it and wore it constantly.

Frost Flowers Stitch Pattern

(Multiples of 34 stitches + 2)
Row 1 (RS)  K1, *k3, k2tog, k4, yo, p2, [k2, yo, skp] 3 times, p2, yo, k4, skp, k3; rep to last st; k1
Row 2 K1, *p2, p2tog-b, p4, yo, p1, k2 [p2, yo, p2tog] 3 times, k2, p1, yo, p4, p2tog, p2; rep from * to last st; k1
Row 3 K1, *k1, k2tog, k4, yo, k2, p2, [k2, yo, skp] 3 times, p2, k2, yo, k4, skp, k1; rep from * to last st; k1
Row 4 K1, *p2tog-b, p4, yo, p3, k2, [p2, yo, p2tog] 3 times, k2, p3, yo, p4, p2tog; rep from * to last st; k1
Rows 5 thru 12 Repeat row 1 to 4 twice more
Row 13 K1, *yo, skp, k2, yo, skp, p2, yo, k4, skp, k6, k2tog, k4, yo, p2, k2, yo, skp, k2; rep from  * to last st; k1
Row 14 K1, *yo, p2tog, p2, yo, p2tog, k2, p1, yo, p4, p2tog, p4, p2tog-b, p4, yo, p1, k2, p2, yo, p2tog, p2; rep from to last st; k1
Row 15 K1, *yo, skp, k2, yo, skp, p2, k2, yo, k4, skp, k2, k2tog, k4, yo, k2, p2, k2, yo, skp, k2; rep from * to last st; k1
Row 16 K1, *yo, p2tog, p2, yo, p2tog, k2, p3, yo, p4, p2tog, p2tog-b, p4, yo, p3, k2, p2, yo, p2tog, p2; rep from * to last st; k1
Row 17 thru 24 Repeat rows 13 to 16 twice more.
These 24 rows form the Frost Flowers stitch pattern.

Abbreviations

k2tog - knit 2 stitches together
p2tog - purl 2 stitches together

p2tog-b - purl 2 together through back loops
RS - right side
skp - slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over
yo - yarn over

ST. JOHN'S WORT LACE

STITCH OF THE MONTH - December 2014

St. John's Wort is an all-over slipped-stitch lace pattern that resembles small flowers. The pattern is worked over a four-row repeat. Slipped stitches are worked over two stitches on the right side which decreases the number of stitches on the row. These stitches are increased with a yarn over on the purl (wrong side) rows. Therefore, the stitches should only be counted once a purl row has been completed.

St. John's Wort is an herbal plant known for its anti-depressant properties and studies have shown that knitting can be a natural anti-depressant. How perfect there would be a lovely knitting stitch named after this medicinal plant.

St. John's Wort Lace Stitch
(Multiples of 6 stitches plus 2)
Row 1 (RS)  k1, *sl1, k2, psso, k3; repeat from * to last st, k1
Row 2  P5, *yo, p5; repeat from * to last 2 sts, yo, p2
Row 3  k1, *K3, sl1, k2, psso; repeat from * to end, k1
Row 4  P2, *yo, p5; repeat from * to end
These 4 rows form the St. John's Wort Lace Stitch Pattern

AN EVENING TO REMEMBER SHAWL

An Evening to Remember Shawl is knit in a luxurious blend of merino wool, silk and cashmere in a textured lace pattern. Japanese glass seed beads add a touch of elegance and sparkle. The beads are pre-strung onto the yarn and worked into the lace while knitting the shawl.

I wanted to design a shawl that showcased the subtle variance of colour in the sports-weight yarn and add texture with knitted lace and glass seed beads.

A video has been uploaded to YouTube to provide a tutorial on how to do the Purl with Bead abbreviated as pb in the pattern.

http://www.nadinemcleoddesigns.com/#!an-evening-to-remember-shawl/c3n8

PARASOL STITCH (Lace Panel)

STITCH OF THE MONTH – February 2014

The Parasol stitch is a vertical lace stitch pattern that resembles parasols. The pattern is worked over 17 stitches on a background of stockinette stitch.

A lace panel is a creative way to add textured detail and contrast to a garment. It can be incorporated as a pattern one the front edging of a cardigan, the length of a sleeve, a center panel on a pullover or throughout the garment.

Stitch markers help identify the beginning (and the end) of the panel while knitting.

Parasol Stitch

Row 1 (RS) yo, k1 [p3, k1] 4 times, yo
Row 2 and every even row     Purl
Row 3          K1, yo, k1, [p3, k1] 4 times, yo, k1 (19 sts)
Row 5          K2, yo, k1 [p3, k1] 4 times, yo, k2 (21 sts)
Row 7          K3, yo, k1 [p2tog, p1, k1] 4 times, yo, k3 (23 sts)
Row 9          K4, yo, k1 [p2tog, k1] 4 times, yo, k4 (25 sts)
Row 11        K5, yo, k1 [k3tog, k1] twice, yo, k5 (17 sts)
Row 12        Purl
These 12 rows form the Parasol stitch.
Note: Count the stiches only after the 11^th and 12^th rows of the pattern.

Abbreviations
K3tog   knit 3 stitches together
p2tog   purl 2 stitches together
rep       repeat
RS       right side
yo        yarn over