The Magic of Shetland Lace Knitting

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Stitches, techniques, and projects for lighter-than-air shawls and more. The ethereal beauty and intricacy of Shetland lace knitting might at first seem beyond the powers of the everyday knitter, but the skills needed are within the reach of everyone who can knit and purl, cast on, and bind off. The Magic of Shetland Lace is designed to take the novice knitter from their first “yarn over” step-by-step through to complex every-row lace knitting.

Organized by stitch and row count, the techniques are introduced with clear step-by-step instructions, charts, and detailed photographs of knitted samples. The book presents all the essential skills you will need to master a wealth of traditional Shetland motifs, patterns, and insertions, including Cat’s Paw, Candlelight, Horse Shoe, and many more. Includes suggestions for how to work different stitches into elegant and traditional Shetland Lace accessories such as scarves, hats, and shawls.

Issue 65

The delicacy and beauty of traditional Shetland knitted lace has enchanted people over the years, including designer Elizabeth Lovick, who has created many beautiful patterns for knitters to try. Now she has brought together all her knowledge in her inspirational new book. Her techniques guide covers all the fundamentals of Shetland lace knitting, including knitted-on edgings, blocking lace, and fixing mistakes. She then explains how to go about designing your own lace projects, looking at different construction methods, putting motifs

together and charting out your design. Next up is a comprehensive stitch directory, starting with an at-a-glance stitch selector, and instructions for more than 80 lace stitches. All are charted and most are written out, too. Elizabeth also provides seven projects, including shawls, mitts, socks and a baby set. This excellent book will be treasured by lace knitters who want to try their hand at designing their own unique creations.

Oct 13

I love fair-isle and lace knitting, both hailing from Scottish islands. That’s not to say I am traditional when it comes to knitting, I like my knitwear to have a contemporary twist. This book looks at Shetland lace – those incredible shawls that are so fine they can pass through a wedding ring. Of course, many knitters these days opt for the quicker, the better, which means chunky yarns and big needles. Yet there is something special about Shetland lace. Intricate, delicate and so fine. I would put the Shetland shawl at the top of my list of accessories every woman should have. It’s refined and a true heirloom. Shetland lace patterns can look so complicated, that none but skilled knitters would attempt them, so Elizabeth has set out to show that even novice knitters can. Techniques are clearly shown, with clear step by step instructions and charts. There is a stitch dictionary, so you can design your own items. There are projects too, not just shawls but socks, fingerless gloves and a baby set. I love the Crescent Shawl, but I can’t work out the pattern and I have knitted many lace projects in over 40 years. I like the stitch directory and techniques sections and the fact that there are variations on the stitches for the projects. Charts are not always easy to follow, especially when a book closes on itself, it needed to lie flat. I would much have preferred row by row written instructions.

Jan 14

This is one of those rare books which make you feel as if you are at a serious workshop while retaining a friendliness and accessibility which is essential for nervous knitters and newbies. The first section is quite exhaustive. She covers the history of Shetland lace and story of the sheep breeds on the islands, complete with stunning photos and a description of arriving on the plane - 'We bank sharply and lose more height, the runway comes into view, jutting out into the sea, the rolling waves breaking on to the tarmac. We land safely.' All the basics are covered, yarn, needles, knots, reading a chart (a whole page), joining in colours, picking up stitches, dealing with mistakes and dressing lace (blocking). Then she starts advancing a little more and branching out into designing, constructing shapes, charting and putting motifs together. At this point you're thinking 'this is quite awesome, a whole page or two on how to chart my pattern, wow'. But then there are pages on designing with frames, designing a stole, a scarf and a christening gown. Pretty satisfying. I would definitely say all my questions about lace were answered in this section. Next comes the stitch directory which contains around 70 edgings and traditional Shetland motifs displayed very clearly and knitted in beautiful yarn in delicious colours. At the end of the book you get seven patterns to practice your skills, which of course can be knitted in a different lace pattern to the one shown using the stitch directory. Overall I would definitely say this is a fabulous buy if you are a beginner or an intermediate knitter looking for a new challenge. Lace isn't so difficult, and the only thing you may struggle with is reading charts but Elizabeth expected this and solved it with her page on reading charts. She also has full website details at the back of the book.

Jan 14

The delicate beauty of Shetland lace knitting is conveyed perfectly here. As you can see from the cover, it's a technique that produces very intricate patterns, but everyday knitters shouldn't be put off – if you can knit, purl, cast on and off, you can master this technique too. Allow Elizabeth to guide you through your first project, to increasingly more complex ones, with her easy-to-follow step-by-steps. Before you know it you'll have a collection of elegant accessories made just by you.

Living in Orkney and frequently travelling to Shetland, Elizabeth Lovick has spent many years researching and knitting Shetland lace. A teacher by nature, she enjoys giving knitters the help they need to expand their horizons. She regularly contributes patterns and articles to knitting and spinning magazines in the US and UK. Visit her website

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