I hope you are enjoying the Quick Lace-Edged Baby Socks pattern, the first project in our Bits of Lace 2012 series.
To kick off the extra bonus Bit-sized Tutorials, I’ll begin with the working definition of Knitted Lace Edgings that will serve as the framework for the type of knitting we are focusing on in this series. I’ll also touch on the basic characteristics of Knitted Lace Edgings, but later on in the series I’ll be coming back to each of these in more detail.
There is much to cover and I don’t want to inundate you with information overload. The idea of this is to keep you enjoying your knitting while serving up bit-sized tidbits. The more I learn about the lace, the more I discover there is to learn and explore. I hope you will enjoy the journey with me.
Working Definition of Knitted Lace Edgings
(for purposes of Bits of Lace 2012)
- Edgings – Something that forms or serves as an edge or border
- Lace – A fabric structure with planned holes
- Knitted – Intertwining yarn or thread in a series of connected loops using 2 pointed ‘sticks’ (i.e. I will be keeping the scope of this series to hand knitting)
Basic Anatomy of a Knitted Lace Edging
Basic Characteristics
(typical, but there are exceptions we will play with later in the year)
- Narrow – Relatively few stitches in a row
- Dainty – Fine threads and small needles (usually, but not necessarily)
- One shaped edge – Number of stitches changes from row to row
- One straight edge – “Heading” pattern selected for function and design
Next up in Bit-size Tutorials: Thread / yarn
I invite you to post comments. If you have questions, that’s fine, too. That way it will be a cross-check for me to make sure I have your answer covered somewhere later in the series.
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I’m in! I’m in! Let the bells ring out and the banners fly!
The reason I am so excited about registering was because I thought I already was.
I even had a password written down under the heading of “laceknitting KALs”. But that wasn’t working for me – not even when I changed my username to a couple of my ‘usual’ choices.
At which point I thought I should register for sure for the second time – or just maybe for the first. (Sorry if you now have someone else with my e-mail address signed up. There is only me who uses it.) So I entered a username and then the previously recorded password. With no luck.
The third time I tried to register, I accidentally mis-spelled the password … and that’s when my luck changed! So here I am. Exhausted from the effort of getting here.
I thought I needed to finish a blanket before I became engrossed in the lace knitting, but I think I shall work on both of them … to offset each other.
My confession is that I do not like lace knitting all that much – having only ever knit one lacy piece a few years ago. (I knit a Branching Out scarf in the first Knitting Olympics.) But when I saw the topping of the children’s socks I fell in love. And decided I would force myself to – if not enjoy it (lol) – at least get a little practice at it.
After that long introduction … hello everyone!
Dear Jackie,
Thank you. I’m sure your clear instructions and definitions will be of great assistance to many knitters.
My question is for after the lace has been knitted: what is the best and simplest way to attach the edging? I’m no seamstress and while I sew my knitted garments together I’ve often thought of but have never been brave enough to sew a knit edge to solid fabric. So I’m hoping this maybe a topic you will address at some point in your lessons.
Thank you for all your hard work, and gorgeous designs!
Appreciatively,
Joy
Later in the year we will be covering attaching lace edgings to solid, woven fabric (e.g. towels, handkerchiefs).
But for this first sock-edged project, you basically are just sewing knitting to knitting (the lace edging you have knitted, and the commercial sock that has been knitted). I do like to hold the cuff of the sock stretched out a bit while whip-stitch sewing the lace edging onto it. This is so that the cuff can still stretch out to get on the foot without problems. Does this make sense?
love the look of the lace and am thinking about adapting to use on gloves, hope it works out.
I am looking forward to seeing how this lace “class” works out. I am working on a blanket now and there is a knit on lace border to do at the end.