Knitted Edgings: Making the world a more beautiful place

re: Knitted Edgings: Making the world a more beautiful place

Amontillada — Wed, 11 May 2011 13:47:49 GMT

Kashbehnke, to answer your question about how to add lace edgings to sweaters:

If the sweater pattern is worked from the bottom up, knit the lace pattern FIRST. Many lace edging patterns are worked vertically--one motif at a time, repeating until you have a strip of lace as long as you need. Then pick up stitches for the sweater from the straight edge of the long strip. Incidentally, this is how the famous Shetland and Ohrenburg (spelling?) lace shawls are typically done.

If the sweater is worked from the top down, put the front and back or (easier for lace edging) tube on a circular needle as a holder. Using a separate pair of needles to work the lace, slip one stitch at a time from the holder onto the needle with the top lace stitch and knit the two together.

Volume 2 of Barbara Walker's Treasury of Knitting Patterns has a chapter on lace edgings. Many of these are worked in garter stitch, so they don't curl up! Many lace edging patterns are easy, with the pattern appearing quickly because they are knit crosswise.

Edgings are a good way to try knitting lace for the first time. I did that as a teenager, with a pattern written down by a great-aunt (I think) and a pair of multiple-zero thin needles belonging to one of my grandmothers. My other grandmother never learned to knit, but she crocheted beautifully. I have her tiny steel crochet hooks, as fine as American size 15!

re: Knitted Edgings: Making the world a more beautiful place

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 09 May 2011 19:06:47 GMT

Passionate Knitter: the box is about 7 inches square. I'm spending a week in Seattle right now, but when I'm back home in Spokane, I can take more measurements. Email me at kcubley@interweave.com with the measurements you'll need.

re: Knitted Edgings: Making the world a more beautiful place

PassionateKnitter — Sat, 07 May 2011 14:47:04 GMT

Your sewing box is fantastic! Do you have the dimensions of it? My dear Hubby would like to make one similar to it for me (plus show it off at his wood working club's meeting :-)), but needs dimensions. Can you please share? Thank you!

re: Knitted Edgings: Making the world a more beautiful place

Vici — Sat, 07 May 2011 03:32:19 GMT

Kathleen, I love your great grandmothers sewing box and I have one that my mother gave me as a gift.She found it at an antique show. I believe it is much older than the 20's. Mine had a little note in the drawer that said Christmas 1926".Belonged to your great grandmother Palmer., Aunt Josie. Aunt Josie gave me this in 1926". Figuring each generation at age 20 I estimated 1860?Sampler and antique Needlework also has featured these. /any chance it could have been your great-grandmother's grand mother.Enjoy your column.

Thank you,

Vici Fallin,

Ruston, Louisiana

re: Knitted Edgings: Making the world a more beautiful place

Julietknits — Sat, 07 May 2011 02:37:44 GMT

Your Gramma Sheehan's sewing box is a TRUE treasure to have! I have never seen one quite like that before. Enjoy it for years to come!

re: Knitted Edgings: Making the world a more beautiful place

EllenK@30 — Sat, 07 May 2011 01:52:16 GMT

Kathleen,

I think the pointed lace edging is beautiful, but how do you attach it to the pillowcase? Do you machine sew it on? Or do you just baste it and remove it every time you want to wash the pillowcase? I once used a crochet hook and knit it from the stitches I picked up on the edge. Thanks for your help.

Ellen K

re: Knitted Edgings: Making the world a more beautiful place

Kasbehnke — Fri, 06 May 2011 19:54:42 GMT

I would like to add these types of edgings to sweaters. Does anyone know a way to that without it being an add-on?

re: Knitted Edgings: Making the world a more beautiful place

Betty Veysey — Fri, 06 May 2011 19:03:21 GMT

what size needles does this edging call for? It is beautiful. Thanks, Betty V.

re: Knitted Edgings: Making the world a more beautiful place

ClaudiaC — Fri, 06 May 2011 17:49:55 GMT

There are some lovely lace edgings in the latest issue of Knitting Traditions. I've been practicing one particular piece that is pictured being attached to a pillow case. It's not very hard, and will look lovely...once I get two pieces completed.

re: Knitted Edgings: Making the world a more beautiful place

goze — Fri, 06 May 2011 17:08:50 GMT

Kathleen

Thank you for sharing your family treasures. They are beautiful. Thank you also for sharing the Pointed Lace Edging. I am so intriqued with adding some lace to my pillowcases that I am on my way to pick up new needles.

Happy Knitting,

Jean of Santa Barbara

re: Knitted Edgings: Making the world a more beautiful place

mrglass82 — Fri, 06 May 2011 17:03:31 GMT

My grandmother used to crochet whole table clothes in beautiful pattrens and I wish I had them now, Some how they were lost, and you should feel so privileged to have some thing that she worked with. Imagine the hours she spent using these things. My grandma used tiny hooks and miles of thread; you are blessed tohave these great tools.

re: Knitted Edgings: Making the world a more beautiful place

roseybee6 — Fri, 06 May 2011 16:11:14 GMT

Kathleen! I was so excited to see this today of all days! I'm knitting a shawl/wrap for my sister, making up my own pattern, and wanted a way to end it that would give me points EXACTLY like the sample you showed! I've been looking all over the internet for two days but haven't found what I needed, until now. Now I'm off to count some stitches and knit the last bit of the shawl. Thank you! Carrie

re: Knitted Edgings: Making the world a more beautiful place

jss1 — Fri, 06 May 2011 15:52:57 GMT

Thanks Kathleen!

re: Knitted Edgings: Making the world a more beautiful place

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 06 May 2011 15:51:42 GMT

Hi Jane,

When I looked at my lace-trimmed pillowcases, the trim is simply whip-stitched onto the case. They've lasted years, so I think this is what I'll do to the new ones.

Good luck!

Kathleen

re: Knitted Edgings: Making the world a more beautiful place

jss1 — Fri, 06 May 2011 15:12:44 GMT

Nostalgic topic for me as well. My Grandmother used to crochet trim on pillowcases as well. Wish I had some. I do have a hankie she edged and love the memories it evokes. I have a question. How do you plan to attach the knitted edging to the pillowcase? Wouldn't a set of these make a great gift idea??

You've got me thinking Kathleen. Thank you.

Jane