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These Books about Lace Knitting Could Be Yours

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lace knitting books

In more Sarah’s-cleaning-out-the-office news, this week I’ve got two lace knitting books for your consideration and that I could be sending to you soon.

Knitted Lace by Anne Merrow has a few essays on lace knitting — how to get started with lace, casting on and binding off, and shaping in lace — as well as 25 designs previously featured in Interweave publications. (Check out the patterns on Ravelry.)

This collection is a nice mix that includes shawls, sweaters, scarves and socks. The Dorflinger Tee and the Isis Wrap are a couple of personal favorites.

Also from Interweave, Lace Style by Pam Allen and Ann Budd has 21 designs as well as a designer’s notebook that talks about increases and decreases in lace, offers a bunch of example swatches and gives tips on things like centering lace motifs and fixing mistakes in your lace knitting. (Here are the patterns.)

A few favorites here are the Essential Tank Top, Lacy Waves Top and Floral Lace Anklets.

If you would like these books, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, April 9. I’d love to know what sort of lace knitting you’ve done in the past, or if there’s a project here that jumps out at you.

Thanks for visiting, commenting and sharing, and good luck!

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Comments

  1. I knit & give away a lot of prayer shawls, but, I don’t like the standard basic ones & don’t like knitting the same pattern each time, so each is a different lacy pattern. But, for these books, I’d begin with Angela Hahn’s Wakame Lace Tunic.

  2. I am working on my first lace shawl with a beginners simple pattern.
    Would love challenges… These books look lovely!

  4. I have done lace knitting-a scarf for my sister-a beautiful finish. I have had trouble with using fine textured yarns and keeping up with the pattern. Love the Lacy Waves Top-a must do!

  5. What treasures!!!! I have knitted some lace trims — I’ve had a class in Lace Knitting, shawlette, last Summer. Have done a lace scarf, and started a lace triangle shape wrap Antarktis. Lace knitting is light and airy — such nice accents!!! Thx for the opportunity to participate.

  6. Love knitting lace. I have done several lace shawls including some with beads, lace socks and even designed a lace cowl and lace fingerless mitts.

  7. Love doing shawls and pillow covers.

    When I first tried lace I made mittens with wrong gauge and yarn. I call them over-mittens and wear them with colorful gloves underneath so that the color peaks through my large black lace mittens. Sometimes there are pretty mistakes.

  9. I’m new to knitting but would love to make a prayer shawl. They are so pretty and delicate.

  10. I really like that Lacy Waves top! I have knit a lace shawl. It seemed like I would never get done, but I did and I’m proud of it although I’ve only worn it once.

    I was sure to use lifelines every purl row as it got larger, no way was I going to start over!

  11. I Iover knitting lace. Technically it requires more concentration but it reminds me of all the knitted projects my grandmother made for us as children especially the vintage lace. It brings back such wonderful memories. I love using lace around my blankets & throws. It gives them that beautiful finished look.

  13. I mostly do lace in sweaters and hats. I’m working on a lace and cable hat pattern right now.

  15. I have knit several lace knit projects. It is my favorite thing to knit. I would have a hard time deciding which of these projects to knit first. They are all so beautiful.

  17. I’ve made some lace hats, mohair lace scarves and will soon cast on for a lace cowl. I love working with lace patterns.

  18. I have knitted lace hats and scarves before, but a classic item like the Katharine Hepburn Cardigan is my goal!

  19. I have done scarves, hats, baby sweaters, and incorporated lace in afghans and shawls. I want to make myself a sweater

  20. I made a wedding shawl for our now DIL to wear at the wedding!

    from rainy VT,
    the Vermonster

  21. I am attempting my first lace project, a shawl, but I keep dropping a stitch somewhere and have to start over. Oh well. I’ll just persevere until I figure it out!

  22. I made my only knitted lace project a couple of years ago. My cast on followed the in and out of my pattern but my cast off was very flat. I ripped it and tried a different cast off. Same result. To this day not sure what I did wrong.

  24. These are two great collections, featuring some of my favorite designers. I’ve knit smaller lace pieces, like mitts and cowls, but never a full size shawl or garment. I’m overdue on trying that. Thanks for all the wonderful giveaways – you seem to have a magical never ending library.

  28. I have knitted lace scarves, hats, shawls, socks, baby blankets and clothes….I love knitting lace!

  29. I’ve done several lace shawls and am thinking a lace cardigan might be nice for summer.

  32. I have knit lace scarves, a shawl and a snood. I find a good pattern very helpful to keep track of a chart.

Have you read?

Knit a Garter Stitch Blanket with a Twist

When I first started knitting again after a long absence from the craft (which has now been almost 25 years ago!) I really didn’t like garter stitch that much. I found it super boring, somehow even more boring than knitting stockinette stitch in the round, even though it’s exactly the same thing.

Over the years I’ve softened my opinion, and even grown to like garter stitch. There’s nothing wrong with being plain, and actually the texture of garter stitch is more interesting than stockinette.

Also there are fun things you can do with garter stitch to make it more interesting if you want to, such as adding stripes, working on the bias, or doing fun effects to change the look.

That’s the way with the Bernat Twist My Way Garter Knit Blanket. Using combinations of casting on and binding off creates what they call a Swiss cheese effect along two sides of the blanket. This is a lot of fun in the self-striping ombre yarn they chose for the pattern, but it would also be fun in a solid color or making your own stripes.

Despite the dramatic effect, this pattern is rated easy. It’s worked from side to side (if you consider the “cheesy” edges the top and bottom) and has an eight-row repeat that involves binding off and then casting on again to make the holes. They’re kind of like giant buttonholes.

Once you get the hang of it it’s a pretty easy repeat to remember, and it will be smooth knitting as big as you want to make it.

You can download this pattern from the Yarnspirations website for free, or you can buy a kit direct from them that includes the yarn you need (and knitting needles if you need those, too). Bernat Sport Ombre Twist, which is what is used in the pattern, comes in 12 self patterning colors and is a DK weight acrylic yarn.

[Photo: Yarnspirations]