Inexperienced knitters are often nervous about trying lace patterns, but Feather and Fan is a good stitch choice for new and old knitters alike. The pattern is made up of a four-row repeat, with only one of those rows having any lace work, such as yarn forwards or knit 2 togethers.
Instructions for Feather and Fan Lace
- Work over a multiple of 18 sts + 2
- Row 1 (right side): Knit
- Row 2: Stocking (stockinette) stitch (ie, purl if working flat, or knit if working in the round)
- Row 3: K1,*[K2 tog] 3 times, [yfwd, k1] 6 times, [k2 tog] 3 times, rep from * to last st, K1
- Row 4: Reverse stocking stitch (ie, knit if working flat, or purl if working in the round).
The combination of increases and decreases gives the work a lovely wave effect and the yarn forwards give eyelets to create an overall lace.
Incorporating colour and different yarns.
This pattern is beautiful when worked all in one yarn, but can be even more impressive when different colours are incorporated. Equal stripes (one four-row pattern repeat per colour) can give a neat design and it is also possible to create a range of effects by varying the depth of your stripes and the variety of colours used.
After checking your tension/gauge, it would also be possible to incorporate different yarns into your striped pattern. Mohair-type yarns work well in Feather and Fan, as the pattern is strong enough to remain visible among the mohair fibres, but the soft curves prevent a harsh appearance when worked with smooth yarns. A combination of the two can produce very impressive results.
Uses of the Feather and Fan pattern
This is an extremely versatile all over lace pattern. It can be used in traditional layette patterns (such as pram coats and cardigans) and works well in blankets for babies.
This is not just a pattern for children, however, as this stitch can make an attractive border around the hem of knitted garments, such as sweaters or skirts. These borders can work well with just a few pattern repeats (twelve or sixteen rows in total) or, for a more dramatic pattern, a deeper border of several inches can give your design a strong impact.
A Pattern which doesn't curl.
One of the big advantages of the Feather and Fan pattern is that the one row in four of reverse stocking stitch is enough to prevent the fabric from curling. This makes it an ideal choice for scarves and stoles, as the knitted work retains its shape, allowing the pretty pattern to be shown to its fullest potential.
Feather and Fan, therefore, is a relatively easy lace stitch which is very pretty and extremely versatile while remaining within the capabilities of most knitters.
