GRAFTING LACE INVISIBLY (it's easier than you think When I first sa Lisa

!off"an's #a$e sha# fro" our Interweave Knits Summer 2014 issue% I
i""e&iate#y a&&e& it to "y 'ro(e$t #ist) I as &ran to the three #a$e 'atterns use&
in the sha#% a## *ery &ifferent +ut ea$h one f#oin, sea"#ess#y into the ne-t)

The s$a##o'e& #oer e&,es are for"e& +y a Fan La$e 'attern) (A$tua##y% the fans
re"in&e& "e "ore of the seashe##s I use& to $o##e$t at .a#ey's Is#an&% South
Caro#ina here e'& s'en& a eek ea$h su""er hen I as ,roin, u')/ That
'attern "er,es into the B#ue+e##s La$e 'attern% ith s"a## +o++#es that #ook #ike
+erries on the *ine (another "e"ory fro" $hi#&hoo& su""ers/) The *erti$a#
'ane#s of "ean&erin, *ines are se'arate& +y a Ri++e& Eye#et 'attern that
e*entua##y for"s the "ain 'art of the sha#)
Be$ause the Fan La$e an& B#ue+e##s La$e $an on#y +e orke& in one &ire$tion%
the sha# is orke& in to ha#*es an& ,rafte& in the $enter of the Ri++e& Eye#et
se$tion) 0ne 'ossi+#e &ra+a$k of this $onstru$tion "etho& is that% if the ,raftin,
isn't &one $arefu##y% it
$an resu#t in a *isi+#e #ine
runnin, &on the $enter
of the earer's +a$k)
I knit "y *ersion of the
sha# usin, 1S si2e 3
nee&#es an& a #a$e4
ei,ht yarn)



The tri$k to "akin, the (oin in*isi+#e is to re$reate as $#ose#y as 'ossi+#e the stit$h 'attern that is +ein, ,rafte&5in this $ase%
the Ri++e& Eye#et 'attern5usin, a ta'estry nee&#e an& a #on, stran& of yarn) Graftin, in*o#*es "ore ste's than hen the
stit$h 'attern as $reate& &urin, the knittin, 'ro$ess +e$ause it re6uires to ste's for e*ery one ste' in re,u#ar knittin,) Not
on#y that% +ut you are a#so orkin, ith to ros of #i*e stit$hes at the sa"e ti"e) The "ore $o"'#i$ate& the 'attern% the
"ore ,raftin, ste's i## +e in*o#*e&) 0ne of the si"'#est (an& "ost $o""on/ ,raftin, "etho&s is 7it$hener stit$h) !oe*er%
+e$ause there are no ros of sto$kinette stit$h in the Ri++e& Eye#et 'attern% 7it$hener stit$h i## interru't the 'attern an&
i## +e noti$ea+#e) Another o'tion% sin$e the Ri++e& Eye#et 'attern is essentia##y k3% '8 ri+% is to use a ri+ ,raft) This i## +e
so"ehat #ess noti$ea+#e than a 7it$hener ,raft +e$ause the 'ur# $o#u"ns on't +e interru'te& +y knit stit$hes) But +e$ause
the ,raftin, ou#& a&& to ri+ ros (not one ro% as is $o""on#y +e#ie*e&/% there i## sti## +e a s#i,ht interru'tion to the
'attern) The "ost in*isi+#e ,raft in*o#*es ,raftin, +oth a ri+ ro (Ro 3 or 9 of the 'attern/ on the +a$k nee&#e an& a ro
that $ontains yarno*ers an& &e$reases (Ro 8 or : of the 'attern/ on the front nee&#e)

7it$hener Stit$h Graft 73% .# Ri+ Graft Ri++e& Eye#et La$e Graft
These three sat$hes ere ,rafte& usin, the three "etho&s &es$ri+e& a+o*e) The 'hotos sho a 7it$hener stit$h ,raft% a k3%
'8 ri+ ,raft% an& a #a$e ,raft in the Ri++e& Eye#et 'attern)
KITCHENER GRAFT
For this sat$h% I en&e& ith Ro : of the Ri++e& Eye#et 'attern on the front nee&#e 'ie$e an& Ro 8 of the 'attern on the
+a$k nee&#e 'ie$e% an& then use& 7it$hener stit$h to ,raft the #i*e stit$hes)
Set-up Steps:
Front Needle: .ise% on)
Back Needle: 7ise% on)
Repeated Sequence:
Front Needle: 7ise% off; .ise% on)
Back Needle: .ise% off; 7ise% on)
Re' this se6uen$e unti# 8 st re"s on ea$h nee&#e)
Endin steps:
Front Needle: 7ise% off)
Back Needle: .ise% off)
The ,raftin, ste's are 'retty si"'#e (on#y four ste's in the re'eate& se6uen$e/% +ut usin, 7it$hener stit$h +eteen to
'atterne& ros is the e6ui*a#ent of orkin, to ros of sto$kinette stit$h (an& you 'ro+a+#y ou#&n't $onsi&er ran&o"#y
a&&in, to ros of sto$kinette in the "i&&#e of your sha# hi#e knittin, it/) So if ha*in, an in*isi+#e (oin is a fa$tor for
you% you "i,ht ant to $onsi&er one of the ne-t to o'tions)

K!" #$ RIB GRAFT
For this sat$h% I en&e& ith Ro : of the Ri++e& Eye#et 'attern on +oth the front an& +a$k nee&#e 'ie$es% an& then ,rafte&
in k3% '8 ri+) Sin$e it takes to ste's in ,raftin, to $reate one 'attern stit$h on one nee&#e% a re'eate& se6uen$e i## $ontain
four ti"es as "any ste's as the stit$h re'eat of the 'attern< 3 ste's for ea$h stit$h in the 'attern re'eat% &ou+#e& +e$ause there
are #i*e stit$hes on ea$h nee&#e (an& a &ifferent ro of the stit$h 'attern is $reate& on ea$h nee&#e/) The 'attern re'eat in k3%
'8 ri+ has : stit$hes% hi$h "eans that the re'eate& se6uen$e hen ,raftin, in this 'attern i## $ontain = ste's for ea$h
nee&#e% or 83 ste's tota#)
Set-up Steps:
Front Needle: .ise% on)
Back Needle: 7ise% on)
Repeated Sequence:
Front Needle< 7ise% off; .ise on)
Back Needle: .ise% off; 7ise% on)
Front Needle: 7ise% off; 7ise on)
Back Needle: .ise% off; .ise% on)
Front Needle: .ise% off; .ise on)
Back Needle: 7ise% off; 7ise% on)
Re' this se6uen$e unti# 8 st re" on ea$h nee&#e)
Endin Steps:
Front Needle: 7ise% off; .ise on)
Back Needle: .ise% off; 7ise% on)
Front Needle: 7ise% off)
Back Needle: .ise% off)

RIBBE% E&E'ET 'ACE GRAFT
0ut of the : ,raftin, "etho&s% this one $onfor"s "ost $#ose#y to the Ri++e& Eye#et 'attern% an& therefore is the "ost
in*isi+#e (in s'ite of the fa$t that there is a ha#f4stit$h (o, here the to 'ie$es "eet to'4to4to'/) Be$ause the ,raftin, is "ore
$o"'#e- than 7it$hener stit$h% I $reate& a $heat sheet usin, the Ri++e& Eye#et $hart fro" the sha# 'attern) It's a 6ui$k ay
to $reate ste'4+y4ste' instru$tions for hat ou#& otherise +e a fair#y $o"'#i$ate& 'ro$ess)
To $reate the $heat sheet% I first "a&e se*era# $o'ies of the $hart an& e-'eri"ente& ith &ifferent s$enarios to see hi$h to
ros of the $hart to use for the ,raftin,) Sin$e the 'atterns ere ,oin, to +e ,rafte& to'4to4to'% I turne& one $hart u'si&e
&on)
I fina##y &e$i&e& that this $onfi,uration "ost $#ose#y rese"+#e& the Ri++e& Eye#et 'attern hen it as knit $ontinuous#y
+e$ause the &e$reases a#ternate +eteen ri,ht an& #eft4s#antin,) !ere% the yarno*ers #ook as if they i## a#i,n *erti$a##y% +ut
ith the ha#f4stit$h (o, that o$$urs hen ,raftin, stit$hes to'4to4to'% the yarno*ers on the +a$k nee&#e i## shift to the #eft a
ha#f4stit$h)
I iso#ate& the to $hart ros at the (un$ture +eteen the to $harts to use for the ,raftin,% one ro +e#o the (un$ture an&
one ro a+o*e it) I i## ,raft Ro : on the front nee&#e an& Ro 3 on the +a$k nee&#e) The sha# 'attern a#so has a :4stit$h
See& stit$h +or&er at ea$h si&e $reate& +y orkin, k8% '8% k8 on e*ery ro% hi$h I in$#u&e& in the ,raftin,)
I then $reate& a >$heat sheet> for the ,raftin, usin, (ust those to ros of the $hart ('#us the See& stit$h +or&ers/% ritin, the
,raftin, ste's in ea$h +o-) Where the $hart $ontaine& &ots for 'ur# sy"+o#s% I sha&e& the +o-es so that I $ou#& rite in the")
I a#so shifte& the +a$k nee&#e ,raft o*er a ha#f stit$h to the #eft sin$e that's hat ha''ens hen stit$hes are ,rafte& to'4to4to')
A knit stit$h is $reate& on the front nee&#e hen the ,raftin, yarn is &ran throu,h a #oo' 'ur#ise% then knitise so I rote
>.> then >7> in the +#ank +o-es on the #oer ro (orkin, fro" ri,ht to #eft% (ust as I ,raft a$ross the ro/) A 'ur# stit$h is
$reate& on the front nee&#e +y &rain, the ,raftin, yarn throu,h a #oo' knitise% then 'ur#ise so the sha&e& +o-es on the
#oer ro $ontain a >7> an& a >.)> Graftin, a yarno*er is si"'#y a "atter of ski''in, ste's so the +o-es ith yarno*er
sy"+o#s &on't ,et any #etters) 73to, &e$reases are ,rafte& usin, the sa"e ste's as knit stit$hes% on#y ,oin, throu,h 3 stit$hes
at a ti"e instea& of one (as if to '3to, for the first 'ass an& as if to k3to, for the se$on& 'ass/) The stit$hes on the +a$k
nee&#e are ,rafte& ith the ron, si&e of the ork fa$in,% so the ste's for $reatin, knit an& 'ur# stit$hes (as *iee& fro" the
ri,ht si&e of the ork/ are the o''osite of those on the front nee&#e) Ea$h knit stit$h +o- re$ei*es the #etters >7> an& >.> an&
ea$h 'ur# stit$h +o- re$ei*es the #etters >.> an& >7)> The arros sho the 'ath the ,raftin, yarn takes throu,h the stit$hes%
startin, ith the first stit$h on the front nee&#e at the ri,ht4han& si&e of the $hart) The first ti"e the ,raftin, yarn 'asses
throu,h a stit$h (or stit$hes/ on the nee&#e% the stit$h re"ains on the nee&#e (this first 'ass is re'resente& +y the first #etter in
ea$h +o-/) The se$on& ti"e the ,raftin, yarn 'asses throu,h a stit$h (or stit$hes/ on the nee&#e% the stit$h is re"o*e& fro"
the nee&#e (the se$on& 'ass is re'resente& +y the se$on& #etter in ea$h +o-/) The ,raftin, re'eat (out#ine& in re&/ +e,ins an&
en&s in the "i&&#e of a $hart sy"+o# +e$ause it starts ith the se$on& 'ass throu,h a stit$h an& en&s ith the first 'ass)


!ere are the ste's ritten out) Noti$e that so"e of the ste's on the front nee&#e (either an >off> ste' or an >on> ste'/ see" to
+e "issin,; this is here the yarno*ers in the #a$e 'attern o$$ur (e-$e't for the first set4u' ste's an& the #ast en&in, ste's/)
The ste's that in*o#*e ,oin, throu,h 3 stit$hes at the sa"e ti"e are the k3to, &e$reases) The re'eate& se6uen$e is orke&
o*er 83 stit$hes% (ust as for k3% '8 ri+ ,raftin,) An& (ust as for the Ri++e& Eye#et 'attern% the yarno*ers +a#an$e the &e$reases
so the stit$h $ount re"ains the sa"e)
Set-up Steps:
Front Needle: .ise% on)
Back Needle: .ise% on)
Front Needle: 7ise% off; 7ise% on)
Back Needle: 7ise% off; 7ise% on)
Front Needle: .ise% off; .ise% on)
Back Needle: .ise% off; .ise% on)
Front Needle: 7ise% off)
Back Needle< 7ise% off; 7ise% on)

Repeated Sequence:
Front Needle: .ise throu,h 3 sts% on)
Back Needle: .ise% off; 7ise% on)
Front Needle: 7ise throu,h 3 sts% off; 7ise% on)
Back Needle: .ise% off; .ise% on)
Front Needle: .ise% off)
Back Needle: 7ise% off; 7ise% on)
Re' this se6uen$e unti# ? sts re" on ea$h nee&#e)
Endin Steps:
Front Needle: .ise throu,h 3 sts% on)
Back Needle: .ise% off; 7ise% on)
Front Needle: 7ise throu,h 3 sts% off; .ise% on)
Back Needle: .ise% off; .ise% on)
Front Needle: 7ise% off; 7ise% on)
Back Needle: 7ise% off; 7ise% on)
Front Needle: .ise% off; .ise% on)
Back Needle< .ise% off; .ise% on)
Front Needle: 7ise% off)
Back Needle: 7ise% off)

Whi#e ,raftin, in 'attern "ay in*o#*e "ore ste's than ,raftin, usin, 7it$hener stit$h% it &oesn't ha*e to +e &iffi$u#t) As ith
any other ski##% it (ust takes a +it of 'ra$ti$e) An& if you ha*e ste'4+y4ste' instru$tions to fo##o% it shou#&n't +e "ore &iffi$u#t
than fo##oin, any other knittin, 'attern) !ere are so"e ti's that "i,ht "ake the 'ro$ess a #itt#e easier<
Take it s#o#y an& sto' fre6uent#y) I usua##y sto' after e*ery $ou'#e of re'eats of the ,raftin, se6uen$e to take a $ou'#e of
+reaths (it's i"'ortant to stay re#a-e&@/ an& to $he$k "y #ast fe ,rafte& stit$hes)
Create >ru#es> for yourse#f that you fo##o $onsistent#y) !ere are a fe of "ine<
44I "ark off the four ste's (to on the front nee&#e an& to on the +a$k nee&#e/ that I'" ,oin, to ork ne-t an& on#y if I'"
,oin, to ork the" ri,ht aay) That ay% I a#ays kno here to start a,ain if I ha*e to 'ut &on "y ork)
44If 'ossi+#e% I on#y sto' after a $o"'#ete& ,raftin, se6uen$e)
44I a#so at$h for si,n'osts a#on, the ay to "ake sure IA" not ,ettin, off4tra$k) For e-a"'#e% I "i,ht note ho a ,raftin,
se6uen$e i## en& an& +e,in in re#ation to $ertain stit$hes on the nee&#e (the sin,#e 'ur# stit$hes in the Ri++e& Eye#et 'attern
"a&e 'erfe$t si,n'osts/ so that if I kno i""e&iate#y if I'*e "isse& a ste')
44E*eryone "akes "istakes) At one 'oint hen I as ,raftin, the sha#% I en&e& u' ,ettin, out of se6uen$e (fortunate#y% I
$au,ht it 'retty 6ui$k#y +e$ause of the a+o*e ru#e/) Takin, out ,raftin, stit$hes is an essentia# ski## to ha*e) First% &on't 'ani$)
(I a&"it I ha& a har& ti"e fo##oin, that 'arti$u#ar ru#e an& ha& to a#k aay for a fe "inutes)/ The key is to 'u## out the
,raftin, yarn s#o#y an& stit$h +y stit$h% re'#a$in, the #i*e stit$hes on the front an& +a$k nee&#es as you ,o% unti# you rea$h a
'oint in the se6uen$e you kno is $orre$t (that's here the si,n'osts $o"e in han&y/)
44An& you shou#& 'ro+a+#y use a #ife#ine) A#thou,h I $an't $a## this a ru#e +e$ause I &on't a#ays &o this% +ut there ha*e
&efinite#y +een ti"es hen it ou#& ha*e "a&e thin,s easier)
The #a$e ,raftin, "aintains the o'en stru$ture of the rest of the #a$e knittin,)
.ra$ti$e ,raftin, this si"'#e #a$e 'attern on so"e sat$hes (ust to ,et the han, of it) I'" $ertain you'## fin& it's not as &iffi$u#t
as you thou,ht it ou#& +e@