Vandyke Lace Stitch Pattern | Knit with Aabhar | Aabhar Creations
If you’ve been knitting for a while and you’re ready to take your craft to the next level, the Vandyke Lace Stitch is exactly the kind of project that will make you fall in love with knitting all over again. It’s one of those stitch patterns that looks incredibly intricate and sophisticated, yet once you understand the rhythm of the repeating rows, it flows naturally under your needles. Whether you’re planning to knit a delicate shawl, a lacy cardigan panel, a table runner, or even a dreamy baby blanket, the Vandyke Lace Stitch brings timeless elegance to every project it touches.
At Aabhar Creations, we believe that beautiful knitting should be accessible to everyone. That’s why today we’re walking you through everything you need to know about the Vandyke Lace Stitch Pattern — its history, the techniques involved, a full written pattern, tips for success, and ideas for how to use it in your next creation.
What Is the Vandyke Lace Stitch?
The Vandyke Lace Stitch is a traditional knitting lace pattern characterized by its distinctive zigzag or chevron-like lines of yarn-over holes that travel diagonally across the fabric. The name “Vandyke” is believed to be a reference to the pointed, angular style associated with the 17th-century Flemish painter Sir Anthony van Dyck, who was famous for depicting elaborate lace collars and cuffs in his portraits. In textile traditions, the term “vandyke” has long been used to describe zigzag or pointed edges, and this lace stitch lives up to that association beautifully.
What makes the Vandyke Lace Stitch so appealing to knitters of all levels is its visual impact relative to its technical complexity. The stitch creates graceful diagonal lines of eyelets that travel in alternating directions, producing a feather-like or fern-like effect across the fabric. When knitted in a fine laceweight or fingering yarn, the pattern becomes airy and gossamer. In a heavier weight yarn, it takes on a bolder, more textured presence. The versatility of this stitch is truly one of its greatest strengths.
Materials You Will Need
Before casting on, let’s make sure you have everything ready. The beauty of a lace stitch pattern is that it doesn’t require any special tools beyond what most knitters already have.
Yarn: A smooth, plied yarn works best for lace knitting because the stitch definition helps the eyelets stand out clearly. For a delicate, traditional lace look, choose laceweight or fingering weight yarn in a natural fiber like merino wool, silk, or a silk-merino blend. Cotton can also work beautifully for warmer-weather projects like table linens or summer shawls. For a beginner practicing the stitch, a DK or light worsted weight yarn in a light color will make it much easier to see each stitch clearly.
Needles: Use needles that are one or two sizes larger than the yarn label recommends. Lace knitting benefits from a slightly loose gauge because the open eyelets need room to breathe and the fabric needs to be able to block out properly. For fingering weight yarn, try US size 4 or 5 (3.5 to 3.75 mm) needles. For DK weight, try US size 6 or 7 (4.0 to 4.5 mm).
Other supplies: A set of stitch markers, a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, blocking mats and pins or blocking wires if you plan to block your finished piece, and a row counter or notebook to track your pattern repeats.
Understanding the Abbreviations
If you’re newer to reading knitting patterns, here’s a quick reference for the abbreviations used throughout this tutorial:
k — knit. p — purl. yo — yarn over (wrap the working yarn around the needle to create a new stitch and an eyelet hole). k2tog — knit two stitches together (a right-leaning decrease). ssk — slip, slip, knit (a left-leaning decrease). sl1 — slip one stitch purlwise. rep — repeat. RS — right side of the work. WS — wrong side of the work. pm — place marker. sm — slip marker.
The Stitch Multiple
The Vandyke Lace Stitch is worked over a multiple of 9 stitches, plus 4 stitches for the border on each side if you’re working a flat panel. For the purposes of this tutorial, we’ll work a swatch of 40 stitches, which gives you four full pattern repeats of 9 stitches plus 4 edge stitches (2 on each side). Feel free to cast on more stitches as needed for your specific project, as long as your total stitch count follows the multiple of 9 formula.
The Vandyke Lace Stitch Pattern
Cast on 40 stitches (or any multiple of 9, plus 4 for borders).
Row 1 (RS): K2, k4, yo, k2tog, k3; rep from to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 2 (WS): K2, purl to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 3 (RS): K2, k3, yo, k2tog, k4; rep from to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 4 (WS): K2, purl to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 5 (RS): K2, k2, yo, k2tog, k5; rep from to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 6 (WS): K2, purl to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 7 (RS): K2, k1, yo, k2tog, k6; rep from to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 8 (WS): K2, purl to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 9 (RS): K2, yo, k2tog, k7; rep from to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 10 (WS): K2, purl to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 11 (RS): K2, k6, ssk, yo, k1; rep from to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 12 (WS): K2, purl to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 13 (RS): K2, k5, ssk, yo, k2; rep from to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 14 (WS): K2, purl to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 15 (RS): K2, k4, ssk, yo, k3; rep from to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 16 (WS): K2, purl to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 17 (RS): K2, k3, ssk, yo, k4; rep from to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 18 (WS): K2, purl to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 19 (RS): K2, k2, ssk, yo, k5; rep from to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 20 (WS): K2, purl to last 2 sts, k2.
Repeat rows 1 through 20 for the pattern.
How the Pattern Works: Understanding the Logic
One of the most encouraging things about the Vandyke Lace Stitch is that once you grasp the underlying logic, you may not even need to refer back to the written rows. Let’s break it down so you can truly understand what’s happening.
In the first half of the pattern (rows 1 through 10), you’re creating a line of eyelets that travels diagonally from the right side of each repeat toward the left. Each right-side row, the yarn over and its paired k2tog decrease shift one stitch to the left. Because every yarn over creates a new stitch and every k2tog removes one, the total stitch count remains constant throughout. The eyelet marches across the fabric like a dotted diagonal line.
In the second half of the pattern (rows 11 through 20), the direction reverses. Now you’re using ssk (the left-leaning decrease) paired with a yarn over, and the eyelet line moves from left to right across the repeat. When you work the full 20-row repeat over and over, these two sets of diagonal lines form a continuous zigzag or chevron column of lace holes running up the fabric — the signature look of the Vandyke stitch.
This understanding is also incredibly useful when you make a mistake. If you can see that your eyelets are in the wrong position relative to where they should be in the diagonal march, you’ll know immediately which row went wrong without having to tink all the way back to the beginning.
Tips for Knitting Lace Successfully
Lace knitting rewards patience and attention, but it doesn’t have to feel intimidating. Here are some practical tips from the Aabhar Creations studio that will make your Vandyke Lace experience smoother from the very first cast-on.
Use lifelines. A lifeline is a length of smooth, thin yarn or dental floss threaded through your live stitches on a row you know is correct. If you make a mistake several rows later and need to rip back, you can pull your knitting off the needles and rip down to the lifeline without losing your place. Insert a new lifeline every 10 to 20 rows as you progress through the pattern.
Count your stitches regularly. After every right-side row, count your stitches to make sure you still have the correct number. In lace knitting, it’s easy to accidentally create an extra yarn over or skip a decrease, and catching the error early saves enormous frustration.
Work the wrong-side rows with care. Many lace patterns have plain purl wrong-side rows, but that doesn’t mean you can zone out. An accidentally twisted stitch or a dropped yarn over can ruin the look of the eyelets on the next right-side row. Stay present even on the “plain” rows.
Block your finished piece. This is probably the single most transformative step in lace knitting, and so many beginners skip it. Before blocking, lace fabric looks dense, bunched, and unimpressive. After a good wet block — soaking the piece in cool water, gently pressing out the excess water, and pinning it to your blocking mats at the correct dimensions — the eyelets open up, the fabric relaxes, and the full beauty of the pattern reveals itself. The difference is breathtaking.
Choose your yarn color thoughtfully. Light, solid colors show lace patterns most clearly. White, cream, pale blush, soft grey, and light blue are all classic choices for lace. Variegated or heavily tonal yarns can compete with the eyelet pattern and obscure the stitch definition.
Practice on a swatch first. If you’re planning a garment or a large project in this stitch, always knit a gauge swatch first. Not only will this confirm your stitch gauge, but it gives you a chance to get comfortable with the pattern repeat before committing to the full project.
Project Ideas Using the Vandyke Lace Stitch
Once you’ve practiced the Vandyke Lace Stitch and feel comfortable with the 20-row repeat, a world of project possibilities opens up. Here are some of our favorite ways to use this stitch at Aabhar Creations.
Lace shawl or shawlette: Perhaps the most iconic use of any lace stitch, a shawl worked in the Vandyke pattern in fingering or laceweight yarn is a stunning, wearable heirloom. You can work it as a simple rectangle, or incorporate the stitch into a crescent or triangular shawl design. A plain garter stitch border frames the lace beautifully.
Delicate baby blanket: Worked in a soft, washable merino in DK weight, the Vandyke Lace Stitch makes a gift-worthy baby blanket that feels special without being overly precious. The larger yarn and needles make the knitting quicker, and the resulting fabric is lacy enough to be beautiful but dense enough to be cozy and practical.
Table runner or doily: For home décor enthusiasts, this stitch worked in cotton creates a beautiful table runner or large doily. Cotton blocks superbly and holds its shape well after washing, making it ideal for items that will be used and laundered regularly.
Lace panel in a sweater: You don’t have to commit a whole garment to lace. Consider incorporating a single panel of the Vandyke Lace Stitch down the center front of a cardigan, across the yoke of a pullover, or along the sleeves of a top-down sweater. The rest of the garment can be worked in stockinette or even garter stitch to let the lace panel shine.
Scarf or stole: A simple rectangular scarf or stole worked entirely in the Vandyke Lace Stitch is a wonderful project for building confidence with the pattern. Because it’s just rows of the same repeat, you can zone in on the rhythm of the stitch without worrying about shaping or construction. Work it in a luxurious fingering weight merino or a silk blend for maximum elegance.
Bookmarks and small gifts: If you want a quick, low-commitment project to practice the stitch, cast on just one repeat (9 stitches plus border) and work 40 to 60 rows. Block it flat and you have a gorgeous handmade bookmark, a lovely ornament, or a tiny swatch to frame as wall art.
Caring for Your Finished Lace Knitting
After all the effort you put into knitting a beautiful Vandyke Lace piece, you’ll want it to last for years. Proper care makes all the difference.
For wool and wool-blend lace, always hand wash in cool water with a gentle wool wash. Never wring or twist the fabric — instead, gently press the water out and roll the piece in a clean towel to absorb more moisture, then re-block it flat to its correct dimensions. Store lace items folded in breathable cotton or muslin bags rather than plastic, which can trap moisture and encourage mildew.
For cotton lace, machine washing on a gentle cold cycle is usually fine, but always check your yarn label first. Cotton can be tumble dried on a low setting, though air drying flat is always the gentler option.
If your lace piece starts to look a little tired after many washings, a light re-blocking will restore its crisp, open appearance.
Why We Love Teaching This Stitch at Aabhar Creations
At Aabhar Creations, our mission has always been to share the joy of knitting and to help crafters discover the deep satisfaction that comes from creating something beautiful with your own hands. The Vandyke Lace Stitch holds a special place in our hearts because it perfectly embodies what we love most about this craft: a pattern that carries history and tradition in every stitch, yet remains accessible and rewarding for today’s makers.
When you hold a finished piece of Vandyke Lace knitting up to the light and watch the eyelets catch and scatter it, there’s a feeling that’s very hard to put into words. It’s pride, yes, but it’s also a sense of connection — to the long tradition of lace knitters who have worked these same techniques for centuries, and to the simple, meditative pleasure of yarn and needles moving together in your hands.
We hope this tutorial inspires you to cast on your first Vandyke swatch, or to revisit this classic stitch with fresh eyes. Share your projects with us by tagging Aabhar Creations — we love seeing what you make and celebrating your creativity alongside you.
Final Thoughts
The Vandyke Lace Stitch Pattern is a timeless treasure in the world of knitting. Its elegance, its satisfying rhythm, and its extraordinary visual impact make it a pattern worth learning, practicing, and returning to again and again throughout your knitting life. Whether this is your first foray into lace knitting or you’re adding a beautiful new stitch to an already rich repertoire, we know this pattern will reward every stitch you put into it.
