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These knitted lace patterns were scanned from an original copy of the February 1923 edition of Needlecraft Magazine in an article titled Knitted Laces and Insertions in Pleasing Variations, written by Frieda Bettex.
At the time, nearly everyone had learned how to knit during World War I to supply the soldiers with clothing and now that they were in “peace-time” more decorative patterns such as these were becoming more popular.
These patterns are pretty easy to follow for making knitted laces and edge trims – although I’m sure many of these techniques could be adapted to use for making shawls, lacy scarves, or even tablecloths and table runners.
The article made no mention of what weight yarn or size needles to use, so it’s completely up to you! Use cotton crochet thread, embroidery floss, or other laceweight yarn or go wild and try making these with your favorite bulky yarns or art yarns!
Pattern Notes:
Vintage Knitting Patterns such as these often use the term “narrow”, which means knit two together (k2tog), also commonly seen as a decrease in a pattern.
“Twist a Stitch” means to knit through the back loop.
Twistnarrow means to knit two together (decrease) through the back loop.
From the original article:
In some places, we use the expression “twist a stitch”; this means that the needle is to be inserted from right to left, coming out on the backside of the stitch, away from the worker, the thread put over and drawn through, and the old stitch slipped off. This is really knitting the back of the stitch instead of the front.
It does not change the look of the stitch much, but in certain places gives it a little more firmness, and therefore a little more distinctness to the pattern. In most cases, it is better to slip always the first stitch at the edge, making a neater and more even selvage.
* The Asterisk Symbol (*) Indicates a stitch sequence.
No. 1
A very pretty little “eyelet” edging for trimming handkerchiefs, babies’ undergarments, and other small, fine articles. It is very simple and is quickly and easily knitted.
Cast on 7 stitches, knit across once.
- Knit 3, twist 1, over twice, narrow, over twice, knit 1.
- (Knit 2, purl 1) twice, twist 1, over, narrow, knit 1.
- Knit 3, twist 1, knit 6.
- Bind off 3, knit 2, twist 1, over, knit 2, narrow, knit 1.
No. 2
A very neat little vandyke pattern, which may be used as an edge to transform an insertion to lace, or to make a lace matching an insertion. Simply cast on 6 stitches in addition to those cast on for the insertion, and knit the edge as directed.
Cast on 6 stitches, knit across once.
- Knit 2, narrow, over twice, knit 2.
- Knit 3, purl 1, knit 3.
- Knit 3, narrow, over twice, knit 2.
- Knit 3, purl 1, knit 4.
- Knit 4, narrow, over twice, knit 2.
- Knit 3, purl 1, knit 5.
- Knit 5, narrow, over twice, knit 2.
- Knit 3, purl 1, knit 6.
- Knit 6, narrow, over twice, knit 2.
- Knit 3, purl 1, knit 7.
- Knit 7, narrow, over twice, knit 2.
- Knit 3, purl 1, knit 8.
- Bind off 6, knit 5 .
No. 3
Cast on 15 stitches, knit across once.
- Knit 3, over, twistnarrow (which means twist 2 stitches together), over twice, twistnarrow, knit 8.
- Knit 10, purl 1, knit 2, over, twistnarrow, knit 1.
- Knit 3, over, twistnarrow, knit 11.
- Knit 13, over, twistnarrow, knit 1.
- Knit 3, over, twistnarrow, (over twice, twistnarrow) twice, knit 7.
- Knit 9, (purl 1, knit 2) twice, over, twist-narrow, knit 1.
- Knit 3, over, twist-narrow, knit 13.
- Knit 15, over, twist-narrow, knit 1.
- Knit 3, over, twistnarrow, (over, twice, twistnarrow) 3 times, knit 7.
- Knit 9, (purl 1, knit • 2) 3 times, over, twist-narrow, knit 1.
- Knit 3, over, twistnarrow, knit 16.
- Bind off 6, knit 11, over, twistnarrow, knit 1.
Repeat (always) from 1st row.
No. 4
Cast on 15 stitches, knit across once.
- Knit 1, narrow, over twice, narrow, knit 10.
- Knit 12, purl 1, knit 2.
- Knit 2, (over twice, twist narrow) twice, knit 9.
- Knit 11, (purl 1, knit 2) twice.
- Knit 2, over twice, twistnarrow, knit 1, twistnarrow, over twice, twistnarrow, knit 8.
- Knit 10, purl 1; knit 4, purl 1, knit 2.
- Knit 2, over twice, twist-narrow, knit 3, twist-narrow, over twice, twistnarrow, knit 7.
- Knit 9, purl 1, knit 6, purl 1, knit 2.
- Knit 2, twist-narrow, over twice, twist-narrow, knit 3, twist-narrow, over twice, twist-narrow, * knit 6.
- Knit 8, * purl 1, knit 6, purl 1, knit 1, narrow.
- Like 9th to *; knit 5.
- Knit 7; like 10th from *.
- Like 9th to *; knit 4.
- Knit 6; like 10th from *·
- Like 9th to *; knit 3.
- Knit 5; like 10th from *·
- Like 9th to *; knit 2.
- Knit 4; like 10th from *·
- Knit 2, over twice, twist-narrow, knit 3, narrow, over twice, twist-narrow, * knit 3.
- Knit 5, * purl 1, knit 6, purl 1, knit 2.
- Like I 9th to *; knit 4.
- Knit 6; like 20th from *.
- Like 19th to *; knit 5.
- Knit 7; like 20th from *.
- Like 19th to *.· knit 6.
- Knit 8; like 20th from *·
- Knit 2, twist-narrow, over twice, twist-narrow, knit 1, narrow, over twice, twist-narrow, knit 7.
- Knit 9, purl 1, knit 4, purl 1, knit 1, narrow.
- Knit 2, twist-narrow, over twice, knit 3 together, over twice, twistnarrow, knit 8.
- Knit 10, purl 1, knit 2, purl 1, knit I, narrow.
- Knit 2, twist-narrow, over twice, twist-narrow, knit 10.
- Knit 12, purl 1, knit I. narrow.
Repeat from 1st row.
No. 5
This simple pattern may be made of any desired width by casting on 3 additional stitches for each repeat (as enclosed in parentheses). Hence it will be found very good as a trim for luncheon-sets, suits of underwear, and so on.
Cast on 16 stitches, knit across once.
- Knit 3, (over twice, purl 2 together, knit 1) 4 times, knit 1.
- Knit 4, (purl 1, knit 3) 4 times. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. (20 stitches). Knit plain
- Bind off 4, knit 15. Repeat from 1st row.
No. 6
This lace is especially nice around a shawl or cover for the baby. With soft, white yarn and wooden needles, knit a square piece as large as you wish the cover, starting with 3 stitches, and every time across making 2 stitches of the 2d stitch on the needle by knitting 1 in front and back of stitch, or knit 1, twist 1, before slipping it off.
When you think it large enough, having, say, 100 stitches on the needle, decrease by starting each row thus: Knit 1, slip and bind, knit rest plain. Do this until you have 3 stitches remaining, and bind these off. Crochet a row of spaces (chain 2, miss 2, 1 treble) all around, putting 2 or 3 trebles, 2 chain between, at each corner to make sure the work does not draw. Knit enough of the lace to go around this and sew it on, without fulling except at the corners, stitch by stitch, joining the ends neatly. Thread pink or light-blue ribbon through the row of spaces, and make a little rosette or bow in each corner.
Cast on 14 stitches, knit across once.
- 2, 3, 4. Knit plain.
- Knit 11, over twice, knit 3.
- Knit 4, purl 1, knit 12.
7, 8, 9. Knit plain. - Bind off 3, knit 13.
- Purl.
- Knit plain.
Repeat from 1st row.
No. 7
Cast on 14 stitches, knit across once.
- Knit 3, twist 1, knit 1, narrow, over twice, narrow, knit 2, over, narrow, knit 1.
- .Knit 3, twist 1, knit 3, purl 1, knit 3, over, narrow, knit 1.
- to 8. Knit 3, twist 1, knit 7, over, narrow, knit 1.
Repeat from 1st row.
I hope you enjoy these free antique knitting lace patterns from the 1923 Needlecraft Magazine and of course if you make anything with these patterns or have any suggestions for corrections, we’d love to hear from you in the comments section below!