Edging Options

Tea-time Serviette begins at the outer edge and is knit circularly toward the center. The pattern includes instructions for a delightful Beaded Petit Scallop Edging (shown in the middle of the below photo). I’ll be posting photo tutorials soon to demonstrate and provide more detail about the Long Tail Beaded Cast On and Petit Scallop Edging.

But first, I wanted to cover other edging options, as it will affect how you begin your project. You might prefer one of these options if you don’t want to use beads, or if you want something simpler, quicker and less involved.

Upper: Un-beaded petit scallop edging
Middle (dyed): Beaded petit scallop edging
Lower: Beaded without petit scallop edging

Plain Petit Scallop Edging

The sample shown at the top of the photo is the Petit Scallop Edging without beads. If you choose this option, please mark your pattern as follows –

• Skip over the part about stringing beads onto your project thread.
• Start your project with a plain long tail cast on and the same number of stitches indicated in the pattern (i.e. 220 stitches).
  Tip: Do the cast on loosely since you don’t have beads to force you to space out your stitches! This will also facilitate you being able to work the first row of the petit scallop edging more easily.
• In the Petit Scallop Edging section, skip over the Set-up row.

Then proceed as given from there.

Plain Beaded Edging

The sample shown at the bottom of the photo is a beaded cast on without the petit scallops. Because of the slight bias in the Center Area stitch pattern, you still auto-magically get broad scallops along the edge. This fluted edge can be further enhanced during the blocking. For more about bias, read Bias Effects in Lace Patterning.

If you choose this option, please mark your pattern as follows –

• String only 172 beads.
• Cast on only 172 stitches, sliding a bead into pace after every cast on stitch.
  Tip: The reason the original pattern instructions have you place beads every 4 out of 5 stitches is because that bead sequence anticipates working the petit scallops.
• Join into a round for circular knitting, taking care not to twist stitches. Then purl 1 round, placing 4 markers evenly spaced; i.e. every 43 stitches.
  Tip: The plain purl round offsets the main Center Area pattern and also helps tame the edge from curling once blocked.
• Skip over the entire Petit Scallop Edging section.

Then proceed from the Center Area section as given.

Plain Un-Beaded Edging

This option is not pictured, but basically it will look like the Plain Beaded Edging without beads! Proceed as for the Plain Beaded Edging option except omit the beads.

What is your option?

Let us know what Edging option you are planning to do. Can’t decide? There’s time to do them all if you want. The project knits up relatively quickly (the edging is probably the most time-consuming portion if you add beads and/or do the petit scallops). What do you think?