Old Shale (Chevron) Knitting Pattern: Easy Zig-Zag Lace in 4 Rows
A classic wavy lace: four eyelets between four decreases make scalloped zig-zags. Only one lace row in every four, so it's quick and easy to remember.
This is a very common pattern, but someone requested it, so here it is. Old shale makes soft zig-zag waves with little cut-outs along them. I knitted my sample in two colours, but it's lovely in one colour or in many.
Stitch count
Multiples of 12, plus 2. I used 38 stitches.
What you'll need
- Baby wool, or any soft wool or merino
- Size 9 needles, so the pattern comes out soft
The 4-row pattern
- Row 1 (RS):right side
Knit every stitch. Knit in the tail of any new colour as you go.
- Row 2 (WS):wrong side
Purl every stitch.
- Row 3 (RS):right side
Slip 1. *Knit 2 together twice. Then (yarn over, knit 1) four times. Then knit 2 together twice.* Repeat. Knit the last stitch.
- Row 4 (WS):wrong side
Slip 1 and knit every stitch, including the yarn overs.
Repeat these 4 rows. You can remember row 3 as "four decreases, four eyelets": two decreases on each side and four yarn overs in the middle. That's what shapes the waves.
Where to use it
Shawls, stoles and mufflers, and children's sweaters and frocks. Knit a few repeats at the bottom of a plain cardigan for a pretty wavy hem.
- old shale
- chevron knitting
- zig zag lace
- feather and fan
- shawl pattern
- baby wool
- hand knitting
- lace knitting
