Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

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.

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Pencil Knitting Patterns

Getting ready for back to school makes me think about pencil crafts, so let’s take a look at some pencil themed knitting patterns! 

I recently made a pencil on a circular knitting machine, and it was a fun, quick, easy project that uses little bits of leftover yarn (and if you don’t have yellow you can make it a colored pencil using whatever color’s your favorite). And if you want to make a bigger version check out this pattern from Orange Olive Road on Etsy.

If you want to knit a pencil pillow by hand, check out Sketchy, available on Ravelry from Shana S. Cohen. This one uses worsted weight yarn and has two size options and the choice to make a pencil with an eraser or a colored pencil. 

Pencil scarves seem to be the most popular kind of pencil knitting pattern, and there are lot of cute ones. This one from Cosy Craft UK mostly uses garter stitch, with some welts to add texture and what looks like an I-cord edging. It calls for DK weight yarn. 

If you want to go all garter stitch try this version from Emsley Co Creations, which uses five colors of DK weight yarn and just a little shaping to make the point of the pencil.

There’s also this fun, mostly stockinette so it looks like it curls a bit, pencil pattern that looks like it’s worked in chunky yarn from Little Knits Studio. This one uses just a little garter stitch and easy shaping for the point. 

If you don’t want a pencil scarf, how about some pencil socks? The No. 2 Pencil Socks from The Yarn Enabler are available from Ravelry and use five colors of sock yarn. They feature wide ribs to mimic the texture of a pencil and have options to be worked from the top down or the toe up. 

Needs Sharpening by Alexander Walker is a free pattern on Ravelry that uses five colors of sock yarn to make a sort of shortie sock. The little bit of black at the tips of the toes inspired the name. These, too, can be worked in either direction and are available in three sizes.