Purlbed

Hand knitting › Lace

Eyelet rows (simple lace)

Straight lines of small round holes across stocking stitch, one hole every other stitch: the simplest lace. Each hole is a yarn over, which makes a new stitch with an open hole under it; a k2tog next to it takes the extra stitch away again, so the count stays the same.

What you work it with

Hand knitting · Tools: Needles for the yarn; a smooth yarn that blocks well (wool, cotton); blocking pins.

Symbol chart

One or two repeats of the stitch pattern, drawn as seen from the right side.
12345678Knit on RS, purl on WSK2tog (right-leaning decrease)Yarn overRead from the bottom: RS rows (odd) right to left, WS rows (even) left to right.

Steps

  1. Work a few rows of stocking stitch.
  2. Eyelet row (RS): k1, *yo, k2tog*; repeat to the last stitch, k1.
  3. Purl the next WS row, working each yo as a stitch.
  4. Work 2 more rows of stocking stitch, so the next eyelet row is a RS row.
  5. Repeat the eyelet row; start it one stitch over for staggered holes.
  6. Block the piece to open the holes.

The full card

What it looks like
Straight lines of small round holes across stocking stitch, one hole every other stitch: the simplest lace.
How it behaves
Flat; the eyelet rows add a little give and can carry a ribbon or drawstring [inference].
How it works
Each hole is a yarn over, which makes a new stitch with an open hole under it; a k2tog next to it takes the extra stitch away again, so the count stays the same.
Tools
Needles for the yarn; a smooth yarn that blocks well (wool, cotton); blocking pins.
Parameters
Repeat: 2 stitches (yo, k2tog) plus an edge stitch each side. Eyelet rows every 4–6 rows; an offset second row makes a dotted grid [inference].
Steps
1) Work a few rows of stocking stitch. 2) Eyelet row (RS): k1, *yo, k2tog*; repeat to the last stitch, k1. 3) Purl the next WS row, working each yo as a stitch. 4) Work 2 more rows of stocking stitch, so the next eyelet row is a RS row. 5) Repeat the eyelet row; start it one stitch over for staggered holes. 6) Block the piece to open the holes.
Charting
Read from the right side: a circle is a yo, a right-leaning slash a k2tog; blank squares are knit on RS and purled on WS. WS rows are plain.
Limits and common problems
Forgetting a yo or a decrease changes the stitch count: count after each eyelet row. A yo at the very edge of a row is hard to keep tidy; keep one plain stitch at each edge [inference].
Combines with
Leaf lace motif, Feather and fan (old shale), Stocking stitch (stockinette)
Pieces and assembly
A drawstring row at a waist or bag top, a band at the hem of a summer top, baby cardigans.

Written in our own words from machine manuals, knitting references and swatching. Knit a test swatch before a whole piece.

Open in the technique libraryAll technique cards

Related techniques