Lace edgings have been used as embellishments for garments, bedding, table coverings, and other objects for centuries – and remain popular today.

Sometimes lace edgings are knit as a strip of the desired length, and then sewn on to the object. This is most typically the case when the garment or table covering is made of woven fabric.

Here’s an example of a simple but attractive lace knit edging that could enhance a sleeve edge  – or the bottom edge of a knit shawl.

It would be attached by sewing it (at the body edge) to the garment or object to be embellished.

Here’s the stitch pattern for this simple loopy edging – knit on US4 needles (3.5mm), with a lace-weight yarn:

CO 6
Row 1: K1, K2tog, YO, K2, YO twice, K1 (8 stitches)
Row 2: K1, (K1, P1 into double YO), K5 (8 stitches)
Row 3: K1, K2tog, YO, K5 (8 stitches)
Row 4: BO 2 sts, P2tog, YO, K3 (6 stitches)
Repeat these 4 rows to the desired length.

Knit-on Edging
If you’d like to add this on at the bottom (or end) edge of a shawl, it can be knit on as an elaborate type of bind-off:

Be sure that you have the right number of stitches to accommodate the pattern. For example, the example below is a 4-row pattern. The number of stitches on your needles must be divisible by 2 to accommodate this stitch pattern.

With the right side of your work facing you, CO an additional 6 stitches (cable cast-on method recommended):

K5, and then K the 6th stitch together with the next stitch on your left needle. You should have 6 stitches on your right needle and have decreased 1 stitch on your left needle.

Then, work as follows:
Row 1: K1, K2tog, YO, K2, YO twice, K1 (8 stitches)
Row 2: K1, (K1, P1 into double YO), K4, K the next stitch together with the next stitch on your left needle (8 stitches)
Row 3: K1, K2tog, YO, K5 (8 stitches)
Row 4: BO 2 sts, P2tog, YO, K2, K the next stitch together with the next stitch on your left needle (6 stitches)
Repeat these 4 rows to the desired length

Here’s what a knit-on lace edging looks like with a different stitch pattern:

This is a stitch pattern I’m using in an upcoming shawl project.

If you’d like to see shawl patterns that use this method, check out my Ravelry page (Sea Foam and Country Chic for example).

If you’d like to see some of my finished accessories, visit my Etsy shop.

Happy Knitting!
MikeH

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