As a followup to a previous post about the difference between knitted lace and lace knitting.....
Knitted Lace is the lace fabric that is knitted utilizing holes/yarnovers and corresponding decreases to form the lace pattern. It provides us the opportunity to give the pattern more defininition, where it kind of "jumps off the page".
The additional rows of yarnovers used on the wrong side, give the pattern more holes or a lacey feel. But the decreases can add further definition to the design. The trick of it all is in the decreases..... and in particular its the decreases that are knitted through the backloop. Utilizing the backloop, twists the stitch resulting in a raised effect. When these are done in succession over several rows it creates a defined edge or line in the design.
Here are some tips for mastering this technique.
Decreases thru the backloop.
p2togb - Purl two stitches together as one through the backloop. With yarn in front, insert the right needle from the left into the backloops of the second and first stitches, in that order. Then wrap yarn around the needle in front to complete the stitch.
Note: some knitters find this too awkward to work. If that is the case, the same effect can be gotten by purling one stitch, slip that stich back onto the left needle, with the right needle lift the next stitch over the purled stitch and off the needle, then slip the same stitch back to the right hand needle and continue.
Double decreases through the backloop.
p3togb - Purl three stitches as one through the backloop. This is done the same as p2togb but with 3 stitches instead of 2.
s2pp2 - sl2 p1 p2sso - Slip 2 purl 1 pass slipped stiches over. This double decrease on the wrong side produces a dominant central stich on the right side or a defined point. With yarn in front, insert the right needle into the backs of the second and first stitch on the left needle, in that order at the same time, as if to p2togb, and slip them from the left needle to the right needle. Purl the next stitch on the left needle, then insert the left needle into the two slipped stitches together, at the same time and pass them over the purled stitch and off the right needle.
The s2pp2 is not commonly done, but when it is used it produces a beautiful and distinctive pointed stitch.
More later...... as always ......Happy Knitting!
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