Free Vintage Knitting Pattern:

Lace Edging Patterns from 1886

I enjoy knitting lace, and found these 3 patterns in a copy of "How to Use Florence Knitting Silk", published in 1886 by the Nonotuck Silk Co. of Florence, Mass.

There was a flourishing silk industry in Massachusetts during the latter half of the 1800's, and the Florence Knitting Silk book was reprinted a number of times (there's a wonderful history of the United States silk industry in a back issue of "Piecework" magazine, along with a pattern for a pair of silk mittens, which were also adapted from this book).

If you would like to try knitting these edgings, I suggest using a fine weight yarn and fairly fine needles (I used some 100% cotton from the stash, it was between fingering and sport weight, and used #4 US needles--this resulted in a heavier lace than I would normally make, but shows up nicely in the pictures. Fingering weight yarn and smaller needles would make a beautiful lacy edging). The first two patterns would be beautiful edgings for shawls or blankets; the third edging makes a nice insert.

Pattern #1 (leafy lace edging):
Cast on 26 stitches.
Row 1: k2, yo, k1, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1, skp, p1, k2tog, k1, p1, k1, skp, p1, k2tog, k1, yo, k1, yo twice, k1, yo twice, k1.
Row 2: K2, p1, k2, p1, k1, p3, k1, p2, k1, p2, k1, p3, k8.
Row 3: k2, yo, k1, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1, yo, skp, p1, k2tog, p1, skp, p1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo k7.
Row 4: bind off 4, k2, p4, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p4, k8.
Row 5: k2, yo, k1, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k1, yo, k1, yo, k3, yo, sl 1, k2tog, psso, p1, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yo, k3, yo, k1, yo twice, k1, yo twice, k1.
Row 6: k2, p1, k2, p1, k1, p6, k1, p6, k8.
Row 7: k2, yo, k1, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k1, yo, k1, yo, k5, yo, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yo, k5, yo, k7.
Row 8: Bind off 4, k2, p15, k8.
Repeat these 8 rows for pattern.

Pattern #2 ("S" curve edging)
Cast on 15 stitches. Knit 1 row.
Row 1: k2, yo, k1, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k1, yo, k4, yo twice, k2tog, k2.
Row 2: yo, p2tog, k2, p1, k11.
Row 3: k2, yo, k1, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, yo twice, k2, yo twice, k3.
Row 4: yo, p2tog, k2, p1, k2tog, k1, p1, k10.
Row 5: k2, yo, k1, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k1,yo, k2, k2tog, yo twice, k2tog, k2, yo twice, k3.
Row 6: yo, p2tog, k2tog, p1, k2, k2tog, p1, k2tog, k8.
Row 7: k2, yo, k1, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k1, yo, k3, yo twice, (k2tog) twice, yo twice, k3.
Row 8: yo, p2tog, k2tog, p1, k2tog, k1, p1, k2tog, k8.
Row 9: k2, yo, k1, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k1, yo, k4, yo twice, k2tog, yo twice, k3.
Row 10: yo, p2tog, k2tog, p1, k2tog, p1, k2tog, k9.
Row 11: k2, yo, k1, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k1, yo, k5, yo twice, k2tog, k2.
Row 12: yo, p2tog, k2tog, p1, k2tog, k10.
Repeat rows 1-12 for pattern.

Pattern #3 (Insert):
Cast on 15 stitches, knit 1 row.
Row 1: k2, yo, k2tog, k1, yo, k2tog, k1, skp, yo, k1, k2tog, yo, k2.
Row 2 and all even rows: *k3, p3, repeat from *, end k3.
Row 3: k2, yo, k2tog, k1, yo, k2tog, k1, skp, yo, k1, k2tog, yo, k2.
Row 5: k2, yo, k2tog, k2, yo, k3tog, yo, k2, k2tog, yo, k2.
Row 7: k2, yo, (k2tog) twice, yo, k3, yo, (k2tog) twice, yo, k2.
Row 9: k2, yo, k2tog, k1, yo, k2tog, k1, skp, yo, k1, k2tog, yo, k2.
Repeat rows 1-10 for pattern.

ABBREVIATIONS:
k: knit
p: purl
yo: yarn over
k2tog: knit 2 stitches together
p2tog: purl 2 stitches together
skp: slip one, knit one, pass slipped stitch over knit stitch
sl 1-k2tog-psso is a decrease worked as follows:
sl 1: slip one stitch,
k2tog: knit next 2 stitches together,
psso: pass slipped stitch over the 2 stitches knit together

Please let me know if you encounter any errors in my directions! I make every effort to type carefully, but I'm not perfect...

QUESTIONS? EMAIL ME at: lavs@vintageknits.com

LACE PATTERNS FROM 1886 contributed by Laurie Kynaston; http://www.vintageknits.com. You may share this pattern on your on-line knitting pattern collections or in newsletters, providing this notice remains attached. (I would appreciate notification if you use this pattern!) This pattern is intended for personal use, or for charitable donations/sale. Please contact me at lavs@vintageknits.com for permission to include this pattern in any written collection or to use it for commercial purposes.