Lace yarn for fine shawls and lace patterns

Fine lace yarn for openwork knitting patterns

Lace yarn is a very thin yarn with long yardage. It's mainly used for shawls and stoles with lace patterns, but also for light sweaters, scarves or as a delicate accent on garments. Brands such as ITO, Lang Yarns and Schoppel offer lace yarns.

What matters with lace yarn

Merino wool is elastic, shows lace patterns clearly and blocks well. Mohair with silk is light and fluffy and is also knitted as a carry-along with a second yarn. Pure silk is smooth, shiny and drapes beautifully. Lace yarn is often knitted on much larger needles than its weight would suggest, which creates the open, airy fabric. Your pattern tells you which needle size to use.

• Merino for crisp lace patterns
• Mohair with silk for airy shawls and as a carry-along
• Silk for stoles with sheen and drape
• Light colors that keep the pattern clearly visible

Tip: Thread a lifeline every few pattern repeats, meaning a piece of waste yarn run through one row of stitches. If you make a mistake, you only rip back to that point. Lace patterns only open up once you wet block the finished shawl and let it dry.