Strategically place holes of different shapes and sizes provide endless possibilities for unique designs.
Norwegian Lace Patterns
These patterns were adapted from Herborg Wahl's books of sprang lace patterns based on items in folk museums around Norway.
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In 2022 I had the honor of creating samples for a book of sprang lace patterns by Carol James. The patterns were all based on 19th and early 20th-century samples from Norway or Norwegian Americans, held at Vesterheim Museum in Decorah, Iowa. The following are the samples created for that book.
Lace with a Twist
The other samples on this page all have interlinking stitches in every row. Some of the earliest lace examples and complex 19th century patterns employ extra twists between the same threads, forming ropes. Depending on the number of twists, ropes can form a hexagonal, honeycomb structure, or a more linear structure. For more on these patterns, see the hairnets page.
Other Patterns
These patterns are from Carol James' books of sprang lace patterns and from her 2022 SprangAlong. Unfortunately lace made with acrylic yarn does not lie neatly, so the bags shown below do not do justice to the patterns.
Experiments in Lace
SO many possibilities for designing with lace. One can look through the gathered ends of a hairnet, change a pattern by adding a hole here or omitting a hole there, or just start making holes and see what emerges. Below are some of my early experiments in designing with lace. See also my lace labyrinths for later designs.
