Lace edgings are one of my favorite things to knit.  My childhood fascination for secret codes and incantations is reawakened when I start working the K2togs and Pssos and Ktbls and Yos.  The directions are usually even more cryptic than all-over lace patterns.  And since the rows are short, the magic happens delightfully fast!  Leaves or scallops or ribbons of points simply fall from my needle.

A lace edging is the ideal way to finish off lace fabric too.  Not only lovely, but practical since it blocks out like the lace fabric.  It neither draws in nor curls.  It makes the piece look finished.  And working the lace edging across the live stitches of the last row or round of the body of your knitting is magical too.  You simply cast on the number of stitches you need, then knit the edging perpendicular to the top edge of the body — knitting the last stitch of each right side row of the edging together with a live stitch from the body.  Marvelous!

I am finishing the top of the linen lace of my Secret Garden Q'mitl with a leafy lace edging.  It is absolutely enchanting!  The one little fly in the magical ointment is the nagging worry that I will run out of the linen yarn before I finish the edging.  Every time I complete the 10-row pattern I find myself staring at the diminishing ball of yarn trying to determine if there will be enough.  Sometimes I am sure it will be enough.  Sometimes I am not so sure.  

Some people knit faster when they are afraid they are going to run out of yarn.  I knit slower — by which I mean I knit a repeat or two and then tuck the project safely back in its bag (knowing I cannot run out of yarn if I am not knitting on it….).  Oh, the moment of truth is going to come eventually.  Either I will run out for yarn or I won't.  And nothing I do at this point is going to change the outcome.  But I am taking my time anyway — enjoying the lacey process and trying not to stress out about it.  I am pretty sure (maybe…) that I have enough yarn.  If not, I will have to do something.  Not sure what yet.  I will cross that bridge if and when I come to it.

Meanwhile, I am loving my lace!