Basics of Lace Knitting

DATE & TIME:

Friday, September 4, 2026 — 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm

CLASSROOM COURTESY:

For the comfort of all students, please avoid wearing perfume, cologne, or heavily scented products when attending classes. Your consideration helps everyone have a safe and enjoyable experience.

SKILL LEVEL:

Advanced Beginner — students should know how to cast on, knit, purl, make yarn overs, and work basic increases and decreases.

📋 SUPPLY LIST:

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Please review the supply list and arrive prepared for class.

About This Class

Lace knitting has a reputation for being difficult, but at its heart, lace is simply a combination of increases and decreases arranged to create beautiful openwork patterns. “Once you understand the building blocks, an entirely new world of knitting possibilities opens up.” This class demystifies lace and helps you build the skills needed to approach lace patterns with confidence.

What We’ll Cover

We’ll begin by exploring the difference between lace knitting and knitting lace — two terms often used interchangeably but describing different types of fabric. Then we’ll break down the essential techniques that form the foundation of nearly every lace pattern.

• The difference between lace knitting and knitting lace
• How yarn overs create decorative openings
• Common decrease techniques and how they shape lace motifs
• Recognizing stitch patterns and visual cues in your knitting
• Reading written lace instructions
• Understanding and following lace charts
• Tips for keeping your place and avoiding common mistakes
• Using lifelines and other tools to increase confidence

Students will practice a variety of basic lace motifs while learning how lace patterns are constructed and how to “read” the fabric as they knit.

Continue your learning:
Knitting Skill Builder
Fit Without Fear
Pattern Hacking

Materials Included

• Classroom tools for demonstration
• Reference handouts (if provided by instructor)

Class Policies & Helpful Notes

Timing may vary slightly depending on student needs.

Class Cancellation Policy: To receive a refund or credit for a class, cancellation must occur 7 days prior to class date.

Help us keep this class on the calendar!
This class needs a minimum of XX students to run. If we’re below that number one week before class, the session may be cancelled. Early registration makes a big difference.

Instructor

Janet Szabo
Janet is a lifelong maker, educator, and designer with deep expertise in garment construction, knitting, and creative problem‑solving. She brings a warm, encouraging teaching style shaped by decades of experience — from publishing books and producing her podcast The Straight Stitch to teaching nationally at Sew Expo and for guilds across the country. Her classes blend technical clarity with a supportive, confidence‑building approach that helps students grow their skills and enjoy the process of making.