Here is a simple pattern from Lace from the Attic: A Victorian Notebook of Knitted Lace Patterns (Loveland, Colorado: Interweave, 1998) for an edging to attach to pillowcases. These are knit with size 2 (2.75 mm) needles instead of the size 00000 needles knitters probably would have used on edgings in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. I sewed this lace edging to the pillowcases’ hemline because I thought the green looked so pretty showing through the lace, but it may also be attached to the edges.
Nancie M. Wiseman’s knitted lace edging. Photos by Joe Coca.
Materials Coats Opera, 100% cotton crochet thread, size 10, 251 yards (230 meters)/50 gram ball, 1 ball of #502 Cream Needles, set of size 2 (2.75 mm) double-pointed or size needed to obtain gauge Sewing thread, to match crochet thread Needle, sewing Pillowcases, 1 pair
Finished Size (blocked): One pattern rep (16 rows) measures about 2 3/4 inches (7 cm) across at widest point and 1 1/3 inches (3 cm) high
Gauge (blocked): 14 1/2 sts and 24 rows = 2 inches (5.1 cm) in lace pattern; exact gauge is not critical for this project
Abbreviations BO—bind off CO—cast on k—knit k2tog—knit 2 stitches together k3tog—knit 3 stitches together rep—repeat st(s)—stitch(es) yo—yarn over
Instructions
CO 17 sts.
Set-up Row: K.
Row 1: K2, yo, k2tog, k4, yo, k3tog, (k1, yo) 2 times, k2tog, yo, k2—18 sts.
Row 2 and all even numbered rows: YO, k2tog, k to end.
Row 3: K7, yo, k3tog, k1, yo, k3, yo, k2tog, yo, k2—19 sts.
Row 5: K2, yo, k2tog, k2, yo, k3tog, k1, yo, k5, yo, k2tog, yo, k2—20 sts.
Row 7: K5, yo, k3tog, k1, yo, k7, yo, k2tog, yo, k2—21 sts.
Row 9: K2, yo, k2tog, k8, yo, k3tog, k1, (yo, k2tog) 2 times, k1—20 sts.
Row 11: K11, yo, k3tog, k1, (yo, k2tog) 2 times, k1—19 sts.
Row 13: K2, yo, k2tog, k6, yo, k3tog, k1, (yo, k2tog) 2 times, k1—18 sts.
Row 15: K9, yo, k3tog, k1, (yo, k2tog) 2 times, k1—17 sts.
Rep Rows 1–16 until the edging, slightly stretched, fits pillowcase edge. BO in k after Row 16.
Block gently by spray starching and lightly pressing with a steam iron making sure all of the points are sharp. Seam the two ends of the edging together on the wrong side. Pin the border to the edge or the hemline of the pillowcase stretching slightly; whipstitch the border to the edge or the hemline with the sewing thread.
Repeat for the other pillowcase.
Nancie M. Wiseman teaches, designs, and writes about knitting and crochet. She is the author of several books, including Knitting With Wire.
This project was originally featured in the book Lace from the Attic: A Victorian Notebook of Knitted Lace Patterns (Loveland, Colorado: Interweave, 1998), which is no longer in print.
Enjoy this free pattern from PieceWork, and for more on lace, take a peek inside our May/June 2018 issue.
Featured Image: Detail of lace edging.
Updated June 27, 2019.