Knitting

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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?

Coffee Cozy Knitting Patterns

During the summer (which is what it is where I am writing from) I like to share patterns for things that you can knit and use even when it’s warm out. And sometimes they are things you can use when it’s cold, too, like this collection of coffee cup cozies. Because hot coffee is a must almost any time of year. 

This simple pattern form Darling Jadore is a great one for beginners and could be a good first knitting in the round project. It uses worsted weight yarn and includes video tutorials if you need extra help. 

If you want a perfectly plain cozy that you can jazz up with your own designs, check out the Base Doodle Cup Cozy from Jamie Lomax. This free pattern on Ravelry comes in two sizes (short and long) and is meant to be used with her doodle charts to make it your own. You could also keep it plain, add stripes or design your own motifs to stitch on it. 

Most coffee cozy patterns that I see are just sleeves meant to go over travel mugs, but what if your mug has a handle? This pattern from Stacey’s Knit Wits has an I-cord loop and button so you can use it on a mug with a handle or a travel cup. It uses DK weight yarn.

Coffee cozies are a fun way to play with stitch patterns and learn new techniques. If you’ve never knit cables before, this cozy from Purple Wool Co. would be a great first cable project, as it features simple braided cables all the way around. It uses worsted weight yarn and is worked in the round. 

Try double knitting to make an extra-insulating coffee cozy with this pattern from Tracy Leming. It includes little color changes so you can get the concept of how double knitting works on a small scale. It also can include a little pocket for a tea bag if you want. This one uses worsted weight yarn and is a free pattern on Ravelry.

Or try stranded knitting with the Love in the Air cozy from Danielle Thuen. It features hearts of different sizes and is worked in sock yarn. You’ll need to make sure those floats are nice and loose so it will stretch to hug your cup. You can find this pattern on Ravelry. 

They’re also a fun way to add a bit of flair to an otherwise plain cup. KnitnKaboodle Designs has this lovely leaf-shaped cozy pattern, which you could use for hot or cold beverages by changing up the fiber you choose (that’s pretty much always true). It is made in pieces that are stitched together and can be worked in a single color or choose different colors for each leaf.