Lace Tutorials

The following tutorials will help you to learn knitting techniques which are specifically used for lace. If you're wondering what "no stitch" in your chart means, or how to do a double decrease, we have this information all in one place for you.

Reading a lace chart

Lace chart tutorial

Cast Ons Frequently Used in Lace Patterns

Circular cast on This is a good cast on for circular lace projects knit from the inside out, like Elizabeth Zimmermann's Pi Shawl.

Crocheted provisional cast on Works well for symmetrical lace patterns where the cast on is in the middle, and you knit outward toward the borders.

Traditional provisional cast on Another provisional cast on method, interchangeable with the crocheted provisional cast on.

Loop cast on (v) Easy way to cast on more stitches in the middle of a pattern.

Cabled cast on Flexible cast on, but make sure to do this cast on loosely or use a larger size needle.

Increases

http://community.knitpicks.com/notes/Increase_-_Bar_Increase_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(70, 38, 43); ">kfb Also called a "bar increase" because you will see a horizontal bar of yarn across your newly formed stitch.

http://community.knitpicks.com/notes/Increase_-_Knit_Into_Stitch_Below_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(70, 38, 43); ">Knit into stitch below A fairly invisible way to increase, and you can make the increase slant to the right or left.

http://community.knitpicks.com/notes/Increase_-_Make_1_Increase_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(70, 38, 43); ">m1 This is a fairly invisible way to increase, and you can make a m1 increase slant to the right or left.

http://community.knitpicks.com/notes/Increase_-_Yarn_Over_Increase_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(70, 38, 43); ">yo This method creates a small hole, but it looks nice in lace patterns.

Loop increase Just like the loop cast on.

Decreases

http://community.knitpicks.com/notes/Decrease_-_k2tog_(Single_Decrease)_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(70, 38, 43); ">k2tog Slants right

http://community.knitpicks.com/notes/Decrease_-_p2tog_(Single_Decrease)_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(70, 38, 43); ">p2tog Slants right

http://community.knitpicks.com/notes/Decrease_-_ssk_(Single_Decrease)_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(70, 38, 43); ">ssk Slants left

http://community.knitpicks.com/notes/Decrease_-_ssp_(Single_Decrease)_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(70, 38, 43); ">ssp Slants left

http://community.knitpicks.com/notes/Decrease_-_skp_(Single_Decrease)_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(70, 38, 43); ">skp Slants left

Double decreases How to turn three stitches into one.

Lace increases and decreases tutorial (v)

Fixing and avoiding mistakes

Joining Yarn

Finishing

Kitchener stitch (v) Also known as grafting.

Blocking lace (v)

Wearing your lace shawls (v) Nina shows you different ways to wear different shapes of lace shawls.

What is the difference between "lace knitting" and "knitted lace"?

"Lace knitting" has patterning on every other row, the wrong side rows are knit or purled back. "Knitted lace" has increases and decreases on both the right and wrong side rows. "Lace knitting" patterns are easier for beginners to tackle because if you make a mistake, you just need to rip back to that plain row and try the trickier lace row again.

Knit Picks Podcast

Episode 106: Lace for Everyone!

Free Lace Patterns

Candleflame Shawl

Montavilla Market Tote

Victorian Lace Headband

Victorian Scarf

Dappled Lace Cafe Curtains