Lace Chain patterns

After a few weeks experimenting with new lace increases, I’m very happy that I finally obtained a very attractive and simple stitch pattern. It looks like a jewellery chain made out of links with holes, therefore I called this new pattern Lace Chain.

To make one link of the chain, work Lace Twincrease from one stitch, then work a symmetrical decrease k3tog. You can knit just one vertical chain, or a couple of chains side by side in strings. You can insert some twisted stitches in between, as on sample (1). Also Lace Chains can be alternated like a chess board as on sample (2). The number of stitches between the chains can be changed as you wish, and so can the vertical distance between the links (see the upper part of the top left sample above).

Lace Chain stitch pattern

Cast-on [n x 4 + 3] sts, for example [4+3]=7 sts, or 11, 15, …

You can add any number of selvedge sts on each side, they are not included in the pattern.

Pattern repeat 6 rows.

• Set up row: p3, [k1, p3]
• Row 1: k3, [p1dw, k3]
• Row 2: p3, [k1Twin, p3]
• Row 3: k3, [p1-YO-p1, k3]
• Row 4: p3, [k 3, p3]
• Row 5: k3, [p 3, k3]
• Row 6: p3, [k3tog, p3]

Repeat rows 1-6.

Abbreviations

• p1dw – p1 with double wrap – purl the stitch wrapping the working yarn twice around the RN
• k1dw – k1 with double wrap – knit the stitch wrapping the working yarn twice around the RN
• k1Twin – to unravel the double wrapped st slip it purlwise, wind long loop around the LN from front to back, work the first knit st from this position and drop the first loop off the LN, work the second knit st inserting RN into the second loop as usual – knitwise, and off the needle. See video how to knit Twincrease on YouTube and Vimeo
• K3tog – slip two sts together knitwise, k1; on the RN pick up two slipped sts and pass them over the newly knitted st and off the needle 
• YO – yarn over

Alternating Lace Chains (flat)

Cast-on [n x 3 + 2] sts, for example [3×3+2]=11 sts, or 14, 17, …

You can add any number of selvedge sts on each side, they are not included in the pattern.

• Set up row 1: p 2, [k 1, p 2]
• Set up row 2: k 2, [p 1, k 2, p1dw, k 2], p 1, k 2
• Set up row 3: p 2, [k 1, p 2, k1Twin, p 2], k 1, p 2
• Row 1: k 2, [p1dw, k 2, p1-YO-p1, k 2], p1dw, k 2
• Row 2: p 2, [k1Twin, p 2, k 3, p 2], k1Twin, p 2
• Row 3: k 2, [p1-YO-p1, k 2, p 3, k 2], p1-YO-p1, k 2
• Row 4: p 2, [k 3, p 2, k3tog, p 2], k 3, p 2
• Row 5: k 2, [p 3, k 2, p1dw, k 2], p 3, k 2
• Row 6: p 2, [k3tog, p 2, k1Twin, p 2], k3tog, p 2

Repeat rows 1-6.

Alternating Lace Chains (in the round)

Cast-on [n x 6] sts, for example [5×6]=30 sts, or 36, 42, …

Pattern repeat is 6 sts in 6 rows

• Set up row 1: [k 1, p 2]
• Set up row 2: [k 1, p 2, k1dw, p 2]
• Set up row 3: [k 1, p 2, k1Twin, p 2]
• Set up row 4: [k 1, p 2, k1-YO-k1, p 2]
• Round 1: [k1dw, p 2, k 3, p 2]
• Round 2: [k1Twin, p 2, k 3, p 2]
• Round 3: [k1-YO-k1, p 2, k3tog, p 2]
• Round 4: [k 3, p 2, k1dw, p 2]
• Round 5: [k 3, p 2, k1Twin, p 2]
• Round 6: [k3tog, p 2, k1-YO-k1, p 2]

Repeat rounds 1-6.