Lace Grafting: Breaking Up is Hard to Do

Dear Joni,

This is a difficult letter to write. I still remember when our eyes met across that conference table. I was working on a cowl and getting ready to sew the ends. “You know, you could graft that,” you murmured. Startled, a deer in the headlights of your steely regard, I had no defenses. A mere 5.3 hours later I had the perfect cowl. “You complete me,” I sighed, admiring my work. “No, Kitchener stitch does that,” you responded with your trademark modesty. “Now fix that edge.”

Our relationship seemed set; I was your willing student in all things. You guided me through the basics of grafting, showing me how to think through what I was doing. The chant of “knit off, purl on, purl off, knit on” still brings back those halcyon days of bliss and perfect sock toes.

Our first challenge came soon enough. You were bored, you said. Our relationship seemed stuck. Something needed to change. Wanting to make you happy, I reluctantly learned to graft ribbing and seed stitch. You seemed content, and I had a really awesome shawl collar on that cardigan.

Now, though, I fear we are at an impasse. I have given you everything and it’s not enough for you. Your relentless desire for more—still more—grafting leaves me spent and diminished, with a lot of crumply swatches on my desk and bleedy fingers from that tapestry needle. And yet, I can’t let go. I just can’t quit you. Even now your image rises before me, taunting, challenging, waving around that lace swatch like some victorious banner of—

Wait, did you say grafting lace? Well now, what are you doing Friday night?

The Definitive Guide to Grafting: Lace is now available as an on-demand course you can watch at your own pace, anywhere, any time, on any device.

Happy watching!
Allison

Want to learn more? Check out these resources: