Louet Lacey PDF

Louet Lacey Shawl: Knitted Linen Wrap

What Is Being Made

The Louet Lacey is a lightweight knitted shawl designed by Trudy van Stralen. This elegant wrap measures approximately 22 inches wide by 65 inches long when finished, making it a versatile accessory suitable for layering or draping. The shawl is worked in a single size and features an open, airy construction ideal for warm weather wear.

Primary Craft and Techniques

This pattern combines knitting as the primary construction method with crochet finishing details. The shawl is worked flat rather than in the round, allowing for straightforward row-by-row construction. The design is seamless, eliminating the need for seaming pieces together after completion. A crochet edging using reverse single crochet provides a polished, finished border to the knitted fabric.

Stitches and Stitch Work

The knitting pattern utilizes fundamental stitches and shaping techniques:

• Knit (K) - the basic knit stitch forming the primary fabric
• Purl (P) - used to create textural variation and pattern interest
• Yarn Over (YO) - creates deliberate openings and lacy holes characteristic of the shawl's design
• Knit 2 Together (K2tog) - a decrease stitch used for shaping and creating the lacey pattern structure

The crochet finishing employs reverse single crochet, a technique worked from left to right that creates a textured, corded edge. This stitch is worked by inserting the hook into the top of each stitch, pulling up a loop, then drawing that loop through the loop on the hook to create a finished border.

Materials and Tools

The Louet Lacey pattern calls for Euroflax 100% Wet Spun Linen yarn in a Fine/Sport weight. A total of 3 skeins are required, with each skein weighing 100 grams and providing 270 yards (246 meters) of yardage. The wet spun linen construction creates a durable, breathable fabric with excellent drape.

Needles and hooks required include 4.5 mm straight needles for the main knitting and a 3.5 mm crochet hook for the reverse single crochet edging.

Gauge and Pattern Specifications

The pattern specifies a gauge of 20 stitches and 20 rows equal 4 inches when worked in the stitch pattern. The pattern instructions emphasize that achieving exact gauge is critical for proper finished measurements. Knitters are instructed to machine wash and dry a gauge swatch before measuring to account for the linen fiber's behavior during laundering, ensuring accurate sizing of the completed shawl.