Lace on the machine

Lace Basics
Punchcards
Ribber
DesignaKnit and Lace
Lace Inspiration
Hand Manipulation
Tuck Lace
Elongated Stitches
Subscriber Knit-Along

Lace on any machine

You don't need a standard machine with a lace carriage to create fabulous lacy, openwork fabrics!

A lace carriage and automatic patterning makes quick work of creating lace, but just a little hand manipulation or even simple gauge changes can give you the look you want.

Don't forget ... with the Knit it Now Perfect Fit Basics, you can substitute any stitch pattern. Transform a plain 'ol cardigan into something special with lace!


Automatic Lace Patterning

Machine Brand Differences

To knit lace with the Brother / Knit King machines, you use 2 carriages and it's a 2 step process.
  • Use the K carriage along with your patterning device (electronics, punchcard or hand selecting needles) to select the needles for your design
  • Use the L carriage to make the transfers

To knit lace with the Singer/Silver/Studio machines, the lace carriage transfers and knits the stitches in one pass. (no switching of carriages between rows)

These lace carriages are only available for standard gauge machines. The carriage literally picks up and bends the machine needles to make the transfers. This would not be possible on mid-gauge or bulky machines.

Lace Tutorials

Swatching in Pattern Knitting

Identify Punchcards

Stitch Types and Yarn Usage

Shortrow Shaping with the Lace Carriage

Fine Lace on the Brother Machines

#1 Tip for Using the Lace Carriage

For those times when you need to transfer a single row of stitches use your lace carriage.

This is perfect for Picot Hems, transferring EON for reducing stitches or for creating simple lace designs.

This is a great time saver ... give it a try!
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The Best Advice EVER!

NO TEARS IN KNITTING!

When knitting lace, there will be the inevitable dropped stitch.
Get in the habit of using lifelines and there will be fewer tears.

Lifelines: A Knitter's Best Friend

Lifelines: Ravel Cord Method

LIfelines: Scrap off Method

Troubleshoot Lace

Lace can be a bit fussy.
  1. Make sure you have even weight on your knitting. We suggest using a ribber cast on comb (see the video below)
  2. Bent, or damaged needles can create problems
  3. Make sure your sponge bar is fresh
  4. Don't allow the machine to transfer the edge stitches:
    - Brother machines, push the selected needles into working position
    - Silver, Singer, Studio use the devices to prevent end needle selection
  5. If you have your ribber attached, pull the knitting out and let it hang OVER the ribber, not between the beds.
    Use ribber covers, file folders or magazines to cover the ribber bed and protect the knitting from the gatepegs and needles


Lace Tutorials by Machine Type

Tutorial
Manual
Punchcard
or Electronic
Ribber
(double bed)
Swatching in Pattern
Crochet Look Lace
Elongated Stitches
Elongated Stitches (double bed)
More Elongated Stitches
Multiple Waves
Lacy Waves
Waffle Stitch
Zig Zag Lace
Zig Zag Lace Flags
Radiant Eyelet
Tuck Lace
Lifted Lace
Fine Lace on the Brother Machine
Brother Lace Carriage
Double Eyelet Lace
Lace: Multiple Stitch Transfers
Lace: Multiple Stitch Transfers Part 2
Openwork Slashes
Punchcard Basics
Idenfifying Punchcards
Tuck Lace
Drop Stitch Rib
2x2 Ribbed Lace
Racking Magic
Simple Eyelet Transfers: Brother Machines
Simple Eyelet Transfers: Silver/Singer/Studio Machines

Silver/Singer/Studio Machines

The lace carriage on the Silver/Singer/Studio machines can be used independently of the main knitting carriage:
  • Selects the needles according to the patterning device (punchcard or electronics)
  • Transfers the stitches
  • Knits the row
This is unlike the Brother lace carriage that does not knit

Simple Lace Transfers
on Silver/Singer/Studio Machines

Fashion Lace

If you have a Silver Reed/Studio/Singer standard gauge machine with a lace carriage, you may have heard of "Fashion Lace".

This term refers to stitch patterns that have multiple lace transfers between rows of knitting.

Because your lace carriage selects needles AND transfers stitches AND knits the row all in one pass of the lace carriage, 2 additional steps need to be taken to knit Fashion Lace.

Think of how a lace carriage works. When the lace carriage is passed in one direction stitches on selected needles are picked up, removed and transferred to an adjoining needle. But what if you want to position your eyelet away from the transferred stitch?

It would take multiple passes of the lace carriage to create this.

In order to make multiple passes and move stitches without knitting them you need to:
  • Remove the yarn from the yarn feeder AND
  • Set the carriage to knit Fashion Lace
As always, it's critical to have your manual and understand the settings for your machine.

More on multiple stitch transfers and Fashion Lace:


NOTE: Studio/Silver/Singer Fashion Lace punchcards have red indicators on the rows to pass the carriage without yarn AND change the carriage setting. BUT, any lace punchcard that has multiple stitch transfers can be used. The key is understanding how these cards are punched and understanding the function of the lace carriage.

Singer Fashion Lace punchcard

Brother Machines

Lace Carriage on Brother machines selects the needles depending on your patterning device (punchcard or electronics) AND transfers the stitches to form eyelets.
When the transfers are complete you are instructed to knit with the "K" (main)carriage. The Lace carriage DOES NOT KNIT.

Fine Lace on the Brother Machines

Brother Lace Carriage

DAK to Brother 970 Download

Simple Eyelet Transfers - Brother Machines

Punchcards

With some limitations, 24 stitch punchcards from the various manufacturers can be used on any 24 stitch machine.
The biggest differences:
  • The starting line indicator. You need to determine where "row 1" starts for your machine
  • The right and left arrow indicators on the cards. Brother machines start transferring stitches from the left- Silver/Singer/Studio start from the right
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Double Bed Lace Fun

With a little hand manipulation or racking, you can create open work "lace" with your ribber ... imagine the possibilities!

Racking Magic

2x2 Ribbed Lace

Create your own lace patterns

Use the Power of DesignaKnit to create your own lace patterns. Copy designs from magazines and books or create your own!

DAK: Lace Lessons Learned

Intro to the DAK Lace Tool

Invest the time ... it's worth it!

OK, hand manipulation isn't always fun .... but with these techniques, the investment in your time is SO worth it!

Zig-Zag Lace

Zig-Zag Lace Flags

Lifted Lace

Crochet-look Lace

More Lace Inspiration

Multiple Waves

Radiant Eyelet Lace

Lacy Waves

Double Eyelet Lace

Lace Look Without Stitch Transfers

Incorporate needles out of work with tuck for an open work fabric that resembles lace ... without transferring stitches.

This can be worked with automatic patterning or on manual machines. A favorite technique here at Knit it Now!

Tuck Lace

Tuck Lace on a Manual Machine

Technically Not Lace

This technique produces an openwork fabric similar to lace. Once you understand the concept you'll discover many variations of "stretching" individual or groups of stitches for an open fabric.

Elongated Stitches (no ribber)

Elongated Stitches (double bed)

More Elongated Stitches

Sharpen your Skills with Practice

3 Part Lace Workshop

 Learn/Practice knitting lace on your machine.
No matter what machine you use, you can knit lace.
Let's explore the various ways of making holes in our knitting

Includes tutorials, practice exercises and LIVE Q&A recordings
Check out the Knit-along