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Machine knitted lace peek-a-boo hem showing delicate openwork pattern translated from vintage design

Challenge: Translate a Vintage Knitting Pattern

patterns terminology vintage patterns

Can you crack the code?

Discovered in a vintage machine knitting book, this technique is a good example of how things have changed for machine knitters.

Once-upon-a-time it was common to use a variety of abbreviations for knitting instructions. Unfortunately, there was very little standardization and the terms could be quite cryptic.

Here are the original instructions, along with the translations.

Can you crack the code? Challenge yourself to "read" the original and try to decipher what the author had in mind.

When you get stuck with abbreviations when reading vintage books, use the Knit it Now Glossary for help

Visit the Knit it Now Glossary

Hints

Cast-on for a basic hem with W.Y. Knit several rows. C.O.L. Thread up carriage with cast-on cord. Knit one row. C.O.R.
Thread up carriage with contrast yarn.
Knit 11 rows M.T.-2. Con. Y. C.O.L.
Take out Con.Y. and thread up M.Y. Knit 1 row M.T.-1. C.O.R. Place a basic simple lace card

in the pattern card feeder.
With M.Y. knit 12 rows M.T. -1 in the lace pattern.
Turn up the hem

Translated

Cast on with waste yarn
Knit several rows
Carriage on the left
Thread up the carriage with ravel cord
Knit 1 row
Carriage on the right
Thread up the carriage with contrast yarn
MAIN TENSION MINUS 2 Knit 11 rows
Carriage on the left

Thread up main yarn
MAIN TENSION MINUS 1. Knit 1 row right
Carriage on the right
basic simple lace card
With main yarn, MAIN TENSION MINUS 1, knit 12 rows in lace
Hang the hem by re-hanging the first row of main yarn
Knit 1 row at a LOOSE TENSION (10+)
At MAIN TENSION, continue knitting garment

NOTE: Lace knits wider than stockinette. Consider casting on fewer stitches for the hem (approx 10%), then INCREASE before continuing your garment piece