What Do Points Make?

What Do Points Make? Lace Knit Top by Kath Andrews

Project Overview

What Do Points Make? is an intermediate-level knitted top designed by Kath Andrews, originally published as a July 2020 MKAL (Mystery Knit-Along). This downloadable PDF pattern creates a sophisticated lace garment available in four sizes with finished back widths of 52cm, 69cm, 86cm, and 103cm.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a knitted top featuring lace construction. The garment is designed with shaping and stitch pattern work that creates decorative point details throughout the fabric. The finished piece offers versatility across multiple sizing options to accommodate different body measurements.

Knitting Techniques Used

The pattern employs several advanced knitting techniques characteristic of lace garment construction:

• Yarn overs (yo) – creates the openwork characteristic of lace patterns
• Decreases – including k2tog (knit 2 together), k3tog (knit 3 together), ssk (slip, slip, knit), and s2kp (slip 2 stitches together knitwise, knit 1, pass both slipped stitches over) to shape the fabric and form lace motifs
• Wrap and turn (w&t) – creates short-row shaping for fitted construction
• Picking up stitches (pu) – for seamless integration of pattern sections
• Stitch marker placement – guides pattern repeats and shaping throughout the garment

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined in lace formations:

• Stockinette stitch (st st) – the base fabric structure
• Lace stitches – created through strategic yarn overs and decreases that form the point details referenced in the pattern title
• Purl stitches – used for texture variation and pattern definition

Materials and Specifications

Yarn: Boo Lace Yarn, a luxury blend of 80% superwash merino wool and 20% bamboo fiber. This yarn weight is classified as lace weight, providing the delicate drape essential for intricate lace patterns. Yardage requirements vary by size: 380m for the smallest size, 520m for the second size, 770m for the third size, and 1070m for the largest size. The yarn provides 800 meters per 100 grams.

Needles: 4.5mm circular needles are required – either 80cm for larger sections or 30cm for smaller sections, depending on construction stage.

Notions and Tools: The pattern requires four stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats, two lockable stitch markers for finishing, waste yarn or a long stitch holder for securing stitches during construction, and a tapestry needle for seaming and weaving in ends.

Tension and Finishing

The pattern specifies a tension of 17.5 stitches and 33 rows over 10cm squared in stockinette stitch after blocking. Achieving proper tension is critical for obtaining the correct finished measurements. The pattern includes blocking instructions to set the lace stitches and ensure proper garment dimensions.

Difficulty Level

Rated as intermediate, this pattern is suitable for knitters with experience in basic techniques who are ready to advance to lace construction. The combination of yarn overs, multiple decrease types, and short-row shaping requires attention to stitch counts and pattern reading skills.