Here's an easy lace pattern that forms a nice hem.

The pattern is 9 stitches with a 6 row repeat.

All the odd rows are purl.

You can download the pattern from my website.
 

Fiber Gathering winner - Eileen! Congratulations!

Even though this pattern contains 26 stitches and a 12 row repeat, it was very easy to knit and addictive! Once I started and could see the vine forming, I didn't want to quit. It's meant to be insertion lace, but I think it would make a lovely scarf. 
The chart and instructions are on my website.

 It took me forever to knit this swatch because it was only one pattern row and a purl row. So if you are looking for a simple pattern for the top of socks, this is it. Also, it was very hard to photograph for some reason and looks better than the photo.
You can find the swatch pattern on my website. 

Here's another pattern suitable for the top of socks of mittens. I've rewritten and charted the pattern to be knitted flat but to knit it in the round you only have to change the odd rows from purl to knit.
You can find the chart and written pattern on my website.

I know you are wondering if I had given up on this project. No, in fact, I have a couple of samples to post.
I had to change internet hosts. I had been with the same host for years and never had any problems. Well, as most of you know my www.fitterknitter.com site was down completely for over 2 weeks. Then it has been down off and on ever since. Plus I was unable to upload any files to the site. So I have switched to GoDaddy and if they don't do like they have promised, it's going to be GONEdaddy! It took forever to make the switch. My original host couldn't locate the transfer information. What this amounts to is that I've been paying for 2 hosts for the last to months with little of no service.
But you didn't come here to hear me complain. You came to see the latest swatch.
Believe it or not, this swatch is only 6 stitches worked over 2 rows. It would make lovely insertion lace. You can download the pattern from my website (I hope). This is Fancy-Stripe Design #29. Enjoy!

I just had an article published in the Inside Loop, an online British magazine.







This was a fun article to write and share with everyone. I have included written instructions and charts for the Prince of Wales Scarf (left), Knitted Eyelet Edge (right) and Design for Top of Mitten (below). You can read the entire article here.














You will also find a instructions for Knitted Eyelet Edging.

I'm finally getting back around to working on the charts and patterns from The Art of Knitting 1897. This swatch is stretchy and would work well for socks and mittens. And it would also drape well for a shawl. You can find the chart and pattern on my website.

Which looks best?
The swatch on the left shows Fancy Stripe in Knitting before I blocked it. I love the way it  looks like cables and lace.  I also like the puffiness of the design.
This swatch has been blocked. The pattern now lies flat and doesn't look like it has a cable.
I think if I was making a scarf, I wouldn't block it and just let it drape naturally but for a shawl I'd probably go ahead and block.

The pattern isn't hard but the repeat is hard to remember. All the even rows are the same so correcting mistakes is easy. Download the pattern from my website. 

I'm sure you've seen this pattern all over the internet and wondered how it was done. Looks complicated but is really very simple. Here's the sample I knitted from The Art of Knitting 1897. I've rewritten and charted the pattern. You can find this on my website.
The drawing to the left is upside down. My swatch shows how it is actually knitted.

I really need someone to test knit this swatch by the chart I've created. I want to be sure the chart is understandable. You can download the pdf file from my website.

This swatch has a 20 row repeat but don't let that scare you. It's not a difficult swatch to knit if you keep your wits about you. I use stitch markers between each pattern and check my stitch count at each marker before proceeding.
Download the pattern and chart here.

Here is my latest swatch from The Art of Knitting 1897. It is called Fancy Pattern in Knitting #17.

What happened to #16? I wrote it up and knitted it in worsted weight as called for and it turned out to be exactly like Knotted Stitch #1. It actually looked better in the worsted weight yarn so if you haven't knitted it yet, give it a try in worsted instead of lace weight.

This lovely knitted sample is much easier to knit than it looks. It's a 12 row repeat but you soon learn to read your knitting and not have to follow a pattern. It's called a shell design but reminds me of ferns. You can find the pattern and chart on my website. 

This pattern has a 14-row repeat and is worked over 7 stitches. It looks complicated but once you get started, the pattern becomes obvious. It would make a nice scarf or wrap. The chart and pattern are both available on my website.

Here's another swatch from The Art of Knitting 1897.
This is called the Herring-Bone Design and is the simplest pattern I've come across in this book.
If you changed the odd rows to knits, you would have an interesting ribbing for a lacy sock.
You can find the pattern for this swatch on my website.

Here is another swatch from The Art of Knitting 1897.
This pattern is a 4-stitch and 12-row repeat.
If you wish to use it for socks, change the even rows from purl to knit.
The complete pattern and chart can be found on my website.



You can now purchase note cards with all the lace swatches I've created thus far. The bonus is that the pattern for each swatch is printed on the back of the cards and the inside of the cards are blank for your own personal notes. Printed cards come with envelopes. Or you can print your own cards from downloadable pdf files.

I have taken the first 12 stitches from The Art of Knitting 1897 and created a 2008 Calendar. The patterns have been rewritten in modern-day knitting terminology and charted. If you would like to purchase the calendar, you can find it on Lulu.com.
As always, you can also download the charts and patterns on my website.