Johnson - Wendy Knits Lace: Essential Techniques and Patterns for Irresistible Everyday Lace

Copyright 2011 by Wendy D. Johnson
Photography and illustrations copyright 2011 by Potter Craft, a division of Random House, Inc.

All rights reserved.
Published in the United States by Potter Craft, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York.
www.pottercraft.com
www.crownpublishing.com

POTTER CRAFT and colophon is a registered trademark of Random House, Inc.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Johnson, Wendy D.
Wendy knits lace : essential techniques and patterns for irresistible everyday lace / Wendy D. Johnson. -- 1st ed.
p. cm.
Includes index.
1. Knitted lace--Patterns. I. Title.
TT800.J65 2011
746.226--dc22
2011000320

eISBN: 978-0-307-58685-8

Cover and interior design by La Tricia Watford
Photographs by Alexandra Grablewski
Illustrations by Kara Gott Warner and vest Design

The author and publisher would like to thank the Craft Yarn Council of America for providing the yarn weight standards and accompanying icons used in this book. For more information, please visit www.YarnStandards.com.

v3.1

I love to knit lace. I love that a single skein of yarn, which can be an inexpensive investment, gives me many, many hours of knitting entertainment. Whats more, lace projects have a high wow factor: The simplest of stitches, when combined in lacework, produce complicated-looking finished patterns that always seem to amaze. Perhaps thats why I found myself creating lots of fun lace sock patterns to fit all kinds of feet in my last two books, Socks from the Toe Up and Toe-Up Socks for Every Body.

My first attempt at lace knitting, I have to admit, was not a success. When I was an enthusiastic but inexperienced teenaged knitter, I eagerly grabbed yarn and needles and jumped right into a pattern for a lacy tank top. Never mind that I had absolutely no experience knitting lace. I barely knew what a yarn over was and, not surprisingly, ran into problems on the first row of the lace pattern; I could not complete it without creating extra stitches. Stubborn knitter that I was (and still am), I refused to ask for help. I spent an entire day knitting and ripping out the same row until I abandoned the project in frustration.

Fifteen years passed before I dared tackle a major lace project againthis time, a wedding handkerchief knit in cobweb-weight wool on size 0000 (1.25mm) needles. With years of knitting experience and some specific instruction in lace techniques on my side, I completed the handkerchief project successfullyalthough I did puncture my fingertips with the tiny needles a few times and sprain my wrist in a rather overzealous blocking of the piece. As you might guess, by then I was head over heels in love with lace and went on to knit many incredibly fine shawls of cobwebby lace that are as light as a cloud. Although they are beautiful, these fragile creations are not exactly practical for everyday use and, unfortunately, usually are kept carefully folded in a drawer.

The pieces I use over and over again are sturdier lace. The shawls and scarves I knit from slightly heavier lace-weight yarns and sock yarns, for example, are the ones I wear all winter long. I like the idea of knitting pieces that are sturdy and serviceable while at the same time lacy and prettylace for everyday life.

In this book, you will find lace youll want to live in, too. Most of the patterns do not use yarns that are considered truly lace-weightthose incredibly fine, gossamer strands that look as though they would break if you looked at them the wrong way or tangle and knot if you looked away for a secondbut heavier lace-weight, fingering-weight, DK-weight, and worsted-weight yarns so that you can knit (and wear) lace through all four seasons.

If you are new to lace, youll find everything you need to master this type of knitting. In section.

So whether you are knitting lace for the first time or just looking for new patterns to sink your needles into, I hope that this book inspires you to knit beautiful lace creations that youll wear every day.

Lace is created from what is not there: negative space, created by a series of holes that form patterns and motifs. Although lace may look complex and mysterious, anyone who can read a chart and work decreases and yarn overs can create beautiful lace.

Knitting lace does not require a lot of special equipment, but choosing the most appropriate needles and yarn, for example, will make your lace knitting more enjoyable and successful. This section contains guidance about the tools needed for knitting lace, a tutorial on working from charts, instructions for blocking your finished lace piece, and a toolkit of tips and tricks for preventing and fixing mistakes.

You might be thinking, Do I really need special needles to knit lace? Although, technically, you could knit lace on any old needles you have lying around, I guarantee that you will find knitting lace to be a far more enjoyable experience when you use the most appropriate needles for the project. For some projects, you can choose needle type (straight or circular), but for all projects, your choice should take into account three basic needle characteristics: material; pointy-ness of the tips; and, if using circulars, the smoothness of the join.

When you must choose between straight and circular needles, consider your project carefully. How many stitches will you be knitting in a row at the widest point? What are the thickness and the weight of the yarn that you will be using? These characteristics will determine not only how wide your work will beand how many stitches will have to fit on the needlesbut also how heavy the work will become after you really get going. Long straight needles, hundreds of stitches, or heavier-than-lace-weight yarn can place undue strain on hands or wrists, making knitting more of a painful chore than a relaxing pastime. Whereas a scarf or other similarly narrow piece might be knit comfortably on straight needles, a large piece like a shawl generally would be easier to knit on a circular needle.

After you have chosen your needle type, think about how you want your needles to perform. Knitting needles are made from metal, wood, or plastic. If you are going for speed, choose metalits slick, and stitches move smoothly and quickly along a slick surface. However, slick metal needles also can allow your stitches to slide right off the tips if youre not careful! If you are new to lace knitting, choose wood or plastic needles because they have a little bit of grab. Your stitches will not slide quite as smoothly as on metal but will be much more likely to stay where they belong.