Petit Scallop Edging

Tea-time Serviette features a dainty lace Petit Scallop edging that can either be started with a beaded cast on (shown right in the below photo), or left plain without beads (shown right).

petit scallop edgings beaded (left) and plain un-beaded (right)

Petit Scallop Edging is a bit unusual from what we’ve done thus far in our KnitHeartStrings KAL projects.

Way back in 2012 for the Bits of Lace Series, we began with a lace edgings with relatively few stitches in each row. Review Knitted Lace Edgings: a working definition and basic characteristics. If these narrow edgings were attached to a main area of knitting in some way, it was in a perpendicular direction (i.e. right angle) such as picking up stitches along the straight edge.

For Tea-time Serviette, the Petit Scallop Edging is a long row/round of stitches to go completely around the napkin/doily. This edging will later “attach” to the main fabric area simply as a continuation of circular knitting.

Another unusual thing about Petit Scallops is its method to create the lace scallops with drastic decreases and increases. Petit Scallops begins with a multiple of 5 stitches, then decreases to a multiple of 2 stitches, then finally ends with a multiple of 4 stitches. Let’s see how …

Setting Up for Petit Scallops

In the Tea-time Serviette pattern as given, the plain purl set-up row helps the beads not squish together and cause buckling when worked Row 1..

If you are not using beads, omit the Set-up row given in the pattern. Note: The “wrong side” of the long tail cast on is intentionally used so the purl bumps define the edge in a similar way to beads having been used, plus it helps tame the edge from curling once blocked.

Row 1 of Petit Scallops

Note: Most of these photos depict the plain, un-beaded version. The steps are the same for the beaded version.

Row 1 is a 5-stitch multiple that results in 2 stitches. Begin with k5.

k5 to begin a petit scallop

4 of those stitches will now be removed. With left-hand needle, lift second stitch from tip of right-hand needle over the first stitch, then drop that second stitch off the needle. (one stitch removed)

lift a stitch up, over and off

Do it again! (another stitch removed)

lift another stitch up, over and off

Do it two more times. (total of 4 stitches have been removed)

3rd of 4 stitches removed

4th stitch removed

That leaves just 1 stitch of the original 5! Weird, ay? Hang on, we’ll add one stitch back onto the needle with a yarn over to arrive at 2 stitches.

yarn forward for yarn over

Then we start all over with the next 5-stitch multiple with k5.

5 knit stitches completed after yarn over of pervious multiple

After the completing the last 5-stitch multiple, join into a round for circular knitting while taking care not to twist stitches.

Tip: Don’t worry if you miss keeping the yarn over at the end of Row 1 while you are taking care of joining for circular knitting. Just pick up the running thread where the yarn over would have been when doing the last stitch of Rnd 2.

Note: The delayed join for circular knitting is a trick I sometimes use to avoid a twisted round, especially after a time-consuming or involved beginning to the pattern stitch such as this one. I figure a “safer” approach is in order (or at least that is my risk-adverse rationale, lol). The join afterwards for this pattern is not really noticeable anyway because there already is the gap between scallops.

Reading Your Knitting

It is often suggested for lace knitting that you use markers between stitch multiples. However, if you can “read” the sign posts in your knitting, this isn’t really necessary. For Petit Scallops, reading your knitting is quite easy. Here are the sign posts to watch for.

Other Methods for Removing Those 4 Stitches

If you find it difficult to pull the stitches over and off, you can turn your work temporarily and work right to left. If you are handy with a crochet hook, you might also want to use that instead of the knitting needle point to get those stitches lifted up, over and off.

using a crochet hook

Rnd 2 of Petit Scallops

This round fills in the gap between the scallops with a k1-yo-k1 double increase into each yarn over of the previous row. The stitch multiple is thus increased from 2 stitches to 4 stitches, the final stitch multiple for this pattern.

double increase made into yarn over

Rnds 3 of Petit Scallops

This round simply does a k1tbl, k3 all around. The through-back-loop stitch snugs up the previous round’s knit stitch at the base of each scallop.

Rnd 4 of Petit Scallops

This final round would normally just be a plain purl round. But for this pattern, it also is the place to adjust the stitch count for transitioning into the Center Area Stitch Pattern that will follow. (The original number of cast on stitches was needed to place the scallops symmetrically at the corners. You don’t have to worry about that because I’ve taken care of the mathematics for you. More time for you to enjoy your knitting!)

this is the beaded version after the final purl round with decrease and placing markers for the corners

I hope you enjoy this unique and pretty stitch pattern. Keep it in mind for other projects where you want a dainty start to the cast on edge, with or without beads.

p.s. Did you notice something different in the first photo? It is a smaller-sized variation of Tea-time Serviette (shown without beads, but can add beads as we’ve discussed for edging options). It makes a nice companion piece as a large beverage coaster or teapot mat to protect your table. I am planning a bonus article later this month with the modifications to the original pattern. If you have the pattern, you’ll be able to also add this piece to your tea service. Interested? Let me know!