Lace pattern

Lace pattern comes back in 75 of my patterns. Here is what it is, why I use it in mohair, and which garments you find it in.

What lace pattern is

A lace pattern is made by pairing a yarnover with a decrease. The yarnover opens a hole, the decrease takes the stitch back — and the stitch count stays the same. That is why the pattern can be repeated without the garment changing width.

The placement decides what it does. Across the yoke it reads as decoration. In the sleeves and on the body it lets out warmth.

Why I use it in mohair

Mohair is warm. The lace pattern lets the garment breathe, so it can be worn through more seasons than a dense mohair sweater could.

And it is beautiful: the lace pattern lets the light through, while the airy mohair adds warmth and depth. Together they make a garment that balances the feminine with the timeless.

Blocking

The holes only settle after washing. Do not be afraid to knit a little loosely — the mohair falls nicely after light steaming, and the garment gets a soft drape and a beautiful halo. Block lightly, and the pattern opens up the way it should.

Needle and gauge

In 53 of the 75 patterns the main needle is 7 mm, and the gauge is 12 stitches to 10 cm. A lace pattern needs a roomy gauge to open up — if you knit too tightly, the holes disappear.

If you want to change yarn, the gauge is what decides, not the brand.

How to knit it

I have made two videos. The first shows the eyelet knitting itself, the second how the lace pattern is built up in Arctic Snow. Both videos are narrated in Norwegian.

There is also a short version: Learn to knit a lace pattern in 1-2-3. More techniques in the same order are in Knitting School Part 3.