Last updated on March 2nd, 2016 at 08:05 pm
Vintage Knitting: Lace Edging Patterns from 1886
I enjoy knitting lace, and found these 3 patterns in a copy of “How to Use Florence Knitting Silk”, published in 1886 by the Nonotuck Silk Co. of Florence, Mass.
There was a flourishing silk industry in Massachusetts during the latter half of the 1800’s, and the Florence Knitting Silk book was reprinted a number of times (there’s a wonderful history of the United States silk industry in a back issue of “Piecework” magazine, along with a pattern for a pair of silk mittens, which were also adapted from this book).
If you would like to try knitting these edgings, I suggest using a fine weight yarn and fairly fine needles (I used some 100% cotton from the stash, it was between fingering and sport weight, and used #4 US needles–this resulted in a heavier lace than I would normally make, but shows up nicely in the pictures. Fingering weight yarn and smaller needles would make a beautiful lacy edging). The first two patterns would be beautiful edgings for shawls or blankets; the third edging makes a nice insert.
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Pattern #1 (leafy lace edging):
Cast on 26 stitches.
Row 1: k2, yo, k1, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1, skp, p1, k2tog, k1, p1, k1, skp, p1, k2tog, k1, yo, k1, yo twice, k1, yo twice, k1.
Row 2: K2, p1, k2, p1, k1, p3, k1, p2, k1, p2, k1, p3, k8.
Row 3: k2, yo, k1, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1, yo, skp, p1, k2tog, p1, skp, p1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo k7.
Row 4: bind off 4, k2, p4, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p4, k8.
Row 5: k2, yo, k1, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k1, yo, k1, yo, k3, yo, sl 1, k2tog, psso, p1, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yo, k3, yo, k1, yo twice, k1, yo twice, k1.
Row 6: k2, p1, k2, p1, k1, p6, k1, p6, k8.
Row 7: k2, yo, k1, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k1, yo, k1, yo, k5, yo, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yo, k5, yo, k7.
Row 8: Bind off 4, k2, p15, k8.
Repeat these 8 rows for pattern.
Pattern #2 (“S” curve edging)
Cast on 15 stitches. Knit 1 row.
Row 1: k2, yo, k1, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k1, yo, k4, yo twice, k2tog, k2.
Row 2: yo, p2tog, k2, p1, k11.
Row 3: k2, yo, k1, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, yo twice, k2, yo twice, k3.
Row 4: yo, p2tog, k2, p1, k2tog, k1, p1, k10.
Row 5: k2, yo, k1, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k1,yo, k2, k2tog, yo twice, k2tog, k2, yo twice, k3.
Row 6: yo, p2tog, k2tog, p1, k2, k2tog, p1, k2tog, k8.
Row 7: k2, yo, k1, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k1, yo, k3, yo twice, (k2tog) twice, yo twice, k3.
Row 8: yo, p2tog, k2tog, p1, k2tog, k1, p1, k2tog, k8.
Row 9: k2, yo, k1, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k1, yo, k4, yo twice, k2tog, yo twice, k3.
Row 10: yo, p2tog, k2tog, p1, k2tog, p1, k2tog, k9.
Row 11: k2, yo, k1, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k1, yo, k5, yo twice, k2tog, k2.
Row 12: yo, p2tog, k2tog, p1, k2tog, k10.
Repeat rows 1-12 for pattern.
Pattern #3 (Insert):
Cast on 15 stitches, knit 1 row.
Row 1: k2, yo, k2tog, k1, yo, k2tog, k1, skp, yo, k1, k2tog, yo, k2.
Row 2 and all even rows: *k3, p3, repeat from *, end k3.
Row 3: k2, yo, k2tog, k1, yo, k2tog, k1, skp, yo, k1, k2tog, yo, k2.
Row 5: k2, yo, k2tog, k2, yo, k3tog, yo, k2, k2tog, yo, k2.
Row 7: k2, yo, (k2tog) twice, yo, k3, yo, (k2tog) twice, yo, k2.
Row 9: k2, yo, k2tog, k1, yo, k2tog, k1, skp, yo, k1, k2tog, yo, k2.
Repeat rows 1-10 for pattern.
ABBREVIATIONS:
k: knit
p: purl
yo: yarn over
k2tog: knit 2 stitches together
p2tog: purl 2 stitches together
skp: slip one, knit one, pass slipped stitch over knit stitch
sl 1-k2tog-psso is a decrease worked as follows:
sl 1: slip one stitch,
k2tog: knit next 2 stitches together,
psso: pass slipped stitch over the 2 stitches knit together
Please let me know if you encounter any errors in my directions! I make every effort to type carefully, but I’m not perfect…
About the Author: Laurie sells vintage knitting patterns, and offers free knitting patterns like this one, on her website at Vintageknits.com
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