Eleven Stitch Lace

It's been a long time but I've finally managed to publish a new pattern. Don't be fooled by the name, this is really an addition to my large stable of Ten Stitch Patterns.

Eleven Stitch Lace

I've been wondering about doing a lace version of the ten stitch for years and finally got round to starting it last year. The simple, one row pattern is a variation of one I found in Mary Thomas' Book of Knitting Patterns (the 'patterns' are actually stitch patterns) but I had to add an extra stitch to my knitted strip to balance the two lines of eyelets.

There were several challenges in designing this one, notably how to maintain the lace pattern while working the short rows for the corners but I got there in the end. I thought a lace blanket would be good for a baby so I changed colour every 'round' and used a range of different pastel colours.

As ever, I used Stylecraft Special DK for my blanket. You get a more accurate idea of the colours in the actual blanket in the picture below.

I was definitely out of my comfort zone with these colours as I normally favour much brighter shades but I think they worked well together in the end. I don't normally add an edging to my ten stitch blankets but, what with all that lace pulling it around, I felt it needed something. After a lot of experimentation I settled on an I cord edging worked in garter stitch which was just right. You can see it at the bottom of this rather dreadful photo. Oh the trouble I had taking photos of all these pale colours.

I hope you like this pattern. Next up will be a baby hat as I work through a collection of projects that I've finished but not yet written up.

Meanwhile, my mostly wild garden is full of flowers ...

... and indoors, the paeonies my daughter brought me last weekend are showing off on the mantelpiece.