2 Designers Add a Modern Twist toTraditional Lace

I've always admired how HeartStrings FiberArts designer Jackie Erickson-Schweitzer marries traditional beauty with practicality in her lace designs. Her lace garments, the Pianissimo Lace Blouse and Put on the Glitz Shrug exemplify this talent, both are classic pieces designed with traditional stitch work that can be dressed up or made more casual by how you style them and their both very practical layering pieces that can change the entire look of your outfit by simply slipping them on.

Pianissimo Lace Blouse

Put on the Glitz Shrug

Erickson-Schweitzer's most recent lace design also strikes this balance, her Terzetto Lace Mitts are elegant, yet warm and wearable. They're named for the threesome of lace stitch patterns used in their design, this trio of stitches will sing to you while knitting and wearing these Victorian style gloves.

On a special note Terzetto is the musical term "a trio for instruments or voices," a little known fact, Jackie is an accomplished pianist who started to play at a very young age!

Terzetto Lace Mitts

Another lace designer I admire is Kirsten Kapur of Through The Loops, but I admire her work for an entirely different reason. Mother of two teenage daughters Kapur's lace designs are always trendy, but never over the top, updated classics that her teen girls and she enjoy wearing for years, not just a single season. Kapur's latest design is the two color shawl, Ziggity. Shaped with 2 increases on every row, the top edge curves slightly up at the center back to give added protection to the neck and the bottom edge has a gentle curve which may be blocked to soft points or with a straight edge.

Ziggity

The combination of complimentary colors gives this stitch pattern and shape a freshness. Knit in a sock weight try two constrasting shades of Malabrigo Sock or Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light, one skein per for the MC and CC. Than, toss Ziggity casually around your neck like a scarf, drape it over your shoulders as a shawl or even wrap it multiple times around your neck with the ends tucked under as a cowl. You'll enjoy experimenting with this modern classic.

See more of patterns by HeartStrings FiberArts and Through The Loops.