v

”Any knitter who has designed a garment comes to the problem of appropriate and original edging. Nicky Epsteinaddresses this subject with a fresh variety that should inspire knitters who are looking for unusual finishings.“—KAFFE FASSETT, textile artist, master of color, and co-author of Knitting with The Color Guys

“Nicky Epstein's imagination knows no limits. . . . [Her] imaginativeand beautiful knitted edgings and embellishments provide anendless source of creative ideas to inspire the rest of us.”—PAM ALLEN, knitwear designer

ISBN 978-1-936096-47-3

9 781936 096473

5 2 9 9 5

$29.95 US • $35.95 Canada“Nicky's edgings are nothing less than eye candy for knitters.Their thorough yet beautiful presentation, each with written instructions,stitch charts, and color photographs, makes every design absolutely clear.“—TRISHA MALCOLM, Editorial Director, Vogue® Knitting

”An innovative and beautiful edging can transform a simple knitted piece intosomething sublime, in the same way the right frame can complement, complete, and

enhance a lovely painting, taking it to a new level.”— NICKY EPSTEIN, from the Introduction

crafts • knitting

O F H E R FAV O R I T EO R I G I N A L B O R D E R S

NickyEpsteinvthe essential edgings collection

5OO

vBooks

NickyEpstein

Nicky

Epsteinvthe

essentialedgingscollection

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Editorial DirectorJOY AQUILINO

Art DirectorCHI LING MOY

Book Division ManagersMICHELLE LOERICA SMITH

Associate EditorERIN WALSH

Executive EditorCARLA SCOTT

Instructions EditorsLISA BUCCELLATOLOUISA CAMERON-SMITHRITA GREENFEDEREVE NGCHARLOTTE PARRYSANDI PROSSERCHARLOTTE QUIGGLE

InstructionsProofreadersMARY LOU EASTMANNANCY HENDERSON

Yarn EditorVERONICA MANNO

Technical IllustrationsULI MONCH

Graphic DesignersMATT DOJNYSHEENA T. PAULLOIRA WALSH

PhotographyJACK DEUTSCH STUDIO

Vice President, PublisherTRISHA MALCOLM

Creative DirectorJOE VIOR

Production ManagerDAVID JOINNIDES

PresidentART JOINNIDES

Copyright © 2012 by Nicky Epstein

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced orused in any form or by any means—graphic, electronic, or mechanical,including photocopying, recording, or information storage and retrievalsystems—without written permission of the publisher.

The written instructions, photographs, designs, projects, and patternsare intended for the personal, noncommercial use of the retailpurchaser and are under federal copyright laws; they are not to bereproduced in any form for commercial use. Permission is granted tophotocopy patterns for the personal use of the retail purchaser.

We have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the contents of this publication. We are not responsible for any human ortypographical errors.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012937687

ISBN 978-1-936096-47-3

Manufactured in China

1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2

First Edition

vBooks

Nicky

An imprint of Sixth&Spring Books

Epstein

161 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10013 sixthandspringbooks.com

Thank you, as always, to Sixth&Spring Books and thestaff there for making all of the amazing edging books,and bringing them together into this single volume for all to enjoy. I must give credit to Trisha Malcolm,Art Joinnides, Joy Aquilino, Carla Scott, DianeLamphron, Chi Ling Moy, and all the other folks whohave played a part in making this book.

Gratitude of course goes to Jack Deutsch and his stafffor the glorious photography, and thanks again to myteam of knitters and other help on the previous books:Lisa Buccellato, Joni Coniglio, Eileen Curry, Mary LouEastman, Nancy Henderson, Valerie Kurita, VeronicaManno, Charlotte Parry, Sandi Prosser, Julie Sabella,Herris Stenzel, and Dianne Weitzul. To Howard, myhusband, thanks for everything!

For the yarn used in the book, I am grateful to DianeFriedman and Stacy Charles of Tahki StacyCharles—with special thanks for their Zara yarn, whichis shown on the cover—as well as to ArthurKarapetyan and Rachel Greenstein of Karabella Yarns.

And a very special thank you to all my readers,students, designers, knitters, and yarn shop ownersaround the world who have so enthusiasticallyembraced my work. You all keep me knitting on, over,and beyond the edge!

Karabella Yarns1201 BroadwayNew York, NY 10001www.karabellayarns.com

Tahki Stacy Charles, Inc.70-60 83rd Street, Building #12Glendale, NY 11385www.tahkistacycharles.com

resources

acknowledgments

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contents

introduction 4textures 6size 8ribs & fringe 10ruffles 56lace 74flora 90points & picots 116cords 132corners & edges 152appliqués 172colors 184nouveau 228glossary 252techniques 254index 255

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4

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5

i n t r o d u c t i o n

An innovative and beautiful edging can transform a simple knitted piece into something sublime, in the sameway the right frame can complement, complete, and enhance a lovely painting, taking it to a new level.

Knitting on the Edge was my first book of edgings, but it was just the tip of the iceberg, despite having morethan 350 wonderful edgings.

Next came Knitting Over the Edge, because there were still so many more edgings I wanted to share! Thisbook offered more amazing ways to embellish or finish a piece, including cords, appliqués, and colorwork,many of which I created especially for the book.

Knitting Beyond the Edge explored the world of cuffs and collars using stitch patterns—a new take on theway an edging can become the perfect finishing touch to your piece.

Now, I’ve taken my favorite edgings from all three books—all my own original designs—and put them intoone handy reference for you. I hope this book will, as the others did for countless students, designers, andknitters, inspire you to try new techniques and looks, expanding your creative skills.

Happy knitting,

Nicky Epstein

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To illustrate the effect of texture and gauge,

the following swatches show the same leaf

edging knit with a variety of yarns to create

totally different looks. Yarn with a smooth finish

and tight twist will produce a much crisper

effect, whereas plush textures such as angora

or mohair create a soft focus that has a gentle

appeal. Don’t shy away from novelty yarns—

with these, you can knit the most creative

borders of all.

1 bouclé

2 linen

3 angora

4 chenille

5 eyelash

6 ribbon

1

2

3

4

5

6

t e x t u r e

6

7 bulky wool

8 silk

9 silk wool

10 mohair

11 cashmere

12 alpaca

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7

7

8

9

11

10

12

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8

13

14

15

With the wide variety of yarns available, it’s important

to carefully consider yarn size when knitting. For these

swatches, I used needles ranging from size #2 to #15

and corresponding yarn. An edging or border takes

on an altogether different personality when the scale is

varied from very fine to extra chunky. Traditional edgings

will adopt a much more contemporary look when

worked with bulky yarns.

13 thick and thin

14 baby fine wool

15 cotton

s i z e

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9

n o t e so n u s i n g t h i s b o o k

Directional Symbols

There are several ways to create edgings: knitting from the bottom up, knitting from the top

down, or knitting separately, then turning the edging horizontally in order to pick up stitches

along the selvage edge or sewing onto the main piece. In most of the instructions, we have

used the symbols shown below to indicate the direction in which the edging was knit. In many

cases, the edgings in this book are reversible.

� Knit from bottom up: Cast-on edge is the lower edge.

� Knit from the top down: Bound-off edge is the lower edge.

� Knit separately: Stitches can be picked up or sewn on.

� � Reversible: Both sides are the same or equally attractive.

�� Knit separately: Stitches are joined together onto one needle,

sometimes adding stitches in between, then the edging continues upward.

���The center is worked separately, then encased by picking up stitches

along bottom and top and working in either direction.

Standard Yarn Weights

You are free to use any yarn you like in knitting the edgings, and the Standard Yarn Weight

System is the most useful tool for picking yarn or making substitutions. Always knit a gauge

swatch; see Textures and Size for examples of how changing the yarn can change the look of

the finished piece.

Making Bobbles

There are many different ways to make bobbles. We’ve included instructions for the most

basic ones on pages 252 and 254 for you to use as desired. Some variations to these basic

bobbles have been written out at the beginning of the edging instruction.

Making Cords

When making cords, use two double-pointed needles or one short circular needle, unless

otherwise indicated. The cords are made separately, then either sewn on or knit into the piece

to form the edging. If you sew on the cord, use a tapestry needle and the same yarn used to

make the cord. Pin the cord in place on top of the fabric. Use small running stitches and work

from the wrong side, catching the cord with each stitch.

For a glossary of terms and abbreviations used in this book, see pages 252–255.

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ribs&fringev

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ribs &

32

celtic princess braid�Cast on 34 sts.

Prep row (WS) P1, k3, [p6, k4] twice, p3, k1, p6.

Row 1 K6, p1, k3, [p4, 6-st LC] twice, p3, k1.

Row 2 and all WS rows K the knit sts and p the purl sts.

Row 3 K6, p1, [3/2 LPC, 3/2 RPC] twice, 3/2 LPC, p1, k1.

Row 5 K6, p3, [6-st RC, p4] twice, k3, p1, k1.

Row 7 K6, p1, [3/2 RPC, 3/2 LPC] twice, 3/2 RPC, p1, k1.

Rep rows 1 to 8 until desired length, end with a RS row.

Bind off 27 sts, fasten off 28th st.

Sl rem 6 sts off needle and unravel them on every row for fringe.

Cut loops and trim.

woven braid�Cast on 22 sts.

Rows 1 and 5 Knit.

Row 2 and all WS rows Purl.

Row 3 K7, 6-st LC twice, k3.

Row 7 K4, 6-st RC 3 times.

Row 8 Purl.

Rep rows 1 to 8 until desired length, end

with a RS row.

Bind off 17 sts, fasten off 18th st.

Sl rem 4 sts off needle and unravel them

on every row for fringe.

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33

Wrap 4

Sl 4 sts to cn, wrap yarn counterclockwise once around these

4 sts, then k4 from cn.

Dec 6

Sl 4 wyif, *pass 2nd st on RH needle over the center st,

sl center st back to LH needle and pass 2nd st on LH needle

over it, sl center st back to RH needle; rep from * twice more.

Pick up yarn and k center st.

Inc 2

K1 tbl in the row below next st, but do not drop from LH nee-

dle, k1, k1 tbl in same st.

�Cast on 38 sts.

Rows 1 and 3 (WS) P1, k5, p4, k2, [p1, k1] 4 times, p1, k2, p4, k5,

p1, k5.

Row 2 K5, k1 tbl, p5, wrap 4, p2, [k1, p1] 4 times, k1, p2,

wrap 4, p5, k1 tbl.

Row 4 K5, k1 tbl, p4, 1/1 RPC, 3/1 LPC, p1, [k1, p1] 5 times,

1/3 RPC, 1/1 LPC, p4, k1 tbl.

Row 5 P1, k4, p1, k2, p3, [k1, p1] 5 times, k1, p3, k2, p1, k4, p1, k5.

Row 6 K5, k1 tbl, p3, 1/1 RPC, p2, 3/2 LPC, [p1, k1] 3 times, p1,

2/3 RPC, p2, 1/1 LPC, p3, k1 tbl.

Row 7 P1, k3, p1, k5, p3, [k1, p1] 3 times, k1, p3, k5, p1, k3, p1, k5.

Row 8 K5, k1 tbl, p2, 1/1 RPC, p5, 3/3 LPC, k1, 3/3 RPC, p5,

1/1 LPC, p2, k1 tbl.

Row 9 P1, k2, p1, k9, dec 6, k9, p1, k2, p1, k5.

Row 10 K5, k1 tbl, p2, k1, p9, M1, inc 2, M1, p9, k1, p2, k1 tbl.

Row 11 P1, k2, p1, k9, p2, [p1, yo, p1] in next st, p2, k9, p1, k2,

p1, k5.

Row 12 K5, k1 tbl, p2, 1/1 LPC, p5, 3/3 RPC, k1 tbl, 3/3 LPC, p5,

1/1 RPC, p2, k1.

Row 13 P1, k3, p1, k5, p3, [k1, p1] 3 times, k1, p3, k5, p1, k3, p1,

k5.

Row 14 K5, k1 tbl, p3, 1/1 LPC, p2, 2/3 RPC, p1, [k1, p1] 3 times,

3/2 LPC, p2, 1/1 RPC, p3, k1 tbl.

Row 15 P1, k4, p1, k2, p3, [k1, p1] 5 times, k1, p3, k2, p1, k4, p1,

k5.

Row 16 K5, k1 tbl, p4, 1/1 LPC, 1/3 RPC, [p1, k1] 5 times, p1,

3/1 LPC, 1/1 RPC, p4, k1 tbl.

Rep rows 1 to 16 until desired length, end with a RS row.

Next row (WS) Bind off 32 sts, fasten off 33rd st.

Sl rem 5 sts off needle and unravel them on every row for

fringe. Cut loops and trim.

�Cast on 35 sts.

Rows 1 and 3 (WS) P1, k4 [p4, k4] 3 times, p1, p5.

Row 2 K5, k1 tbl [p4, 4-st RC] 3 times, p4, k1 tbl.

Row 4 K5, k1 tbl, p3, 2/1 RPC, [2/2 LPC, 2/2 RPC] twice, 2/1

LPC, p3, k1 tbl.

Row 5 P1, k3, p2, k3, p4, k4, p4, k3, p2, k3, p1, p5.

Row 6 K5, k1 tbl, p2, 2/1 RPC, p3, 4-st LC, p4, 4-st LC, p3, 2/1

LPC, p2, k1 tbl.

Row 7 P1, k2, p2, [k4, p4] twice, k4, p2, k2, p1, p5.

Row 8 K5, k1 tbl, p2, k2, p2, [2/2 RPC, 2/2 LPC] twice, p2,

k2, p2, k1 tbl.

Row 9 P1, [k2, p2] twice, k4, p4, k4 [p2, k2] twice, p1, p5.

Row 10 K5, k1 tbl, [p2, k2] twice, p4, 4-st RC, p4, [k2, p2]

twice, k1 tbl.

Row 11 Rep row 9.

Row 12 K5, k1 tbl, p2, k2, p2, [2/2 LPC, 2/2 RPC] twice, p2,

k2, p2, k1 tbl.

Row 13 P1, k2, p2, [k4, p4] twice, k4, p2, k2, p1, p5.

Row 14 K5, k1 tbl, p2, 2/1 LPC, p3, 4-st LC, p4, 4-st LC, p3,

2/1 RPC, p2, k1 tbl.

Row 15 P1, k3, p2, k3, p4, k4, p4, k3, p2, k3, p1, p5.

Row 16 K5, k1 tbl, p3, 2/1 LPC, [2/2 RPC, 2/2 LPC] twice, 2/1

RPC, p3, k1 tbl.

Rep rows 1 to 16 until desired length, end with a RS row.

Bind off 29 sts, fasten off 30th st.

Sl rem 5 sts off needle and unravel them on every row for

fringe.

Cut loops and trim.

balanced rings

saxon braid

fringe

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rufflesv

056-073_RUFFLES_opener_FINALrev:RIBS 5/17/12 6:34 PM Page 57

ruffles

64

ruffles

64

spoke picot comboWork Picot Hem (see page 119) then work Spoke Point Ruffle (see page 66).

basic ruffle with picot hem�(Cast on 3 times the number of sts needed that is a

multiple of 2 sts plus 1)

Work in St st for 1⁄2"/1.25cm, end with a WS row.

Picot row (RS) K1, *yo, k2tog; rep from * to end.

Beg with a p row and cont in St st or desired pat until desired

length, end with a WS row.

Next (dec) row K3tog across, end k1.

Fold hem at picot row and sew in place, then cont as desired.

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6565

spiral ruffle�(multiple of 4 sts)

Row 1 (RS) *K4, yo; rep from *, end k4.

Row 2 and WS rows Purl.

Row 3 *K5, yo; rep from *, end k4.

Row 4 Purl.

Cont as established, working incs on every RS row, and

working 1 st more in each rep, until desired length. Bind off.

peplum ruffle�(multiple of 5 sts plus 4)

Row 1 (RS) K3 *inc1 twice, k3; rep from *, end last rep k4.

Row 2 and all WS rows Purl.

Row 3 K4 *inc1 twice, k5; rep from *, end last rep k5.

Row 5 K5, *inc1 twice, k7; rep from *, end last rep k6.

Row 7 K6, *inc1 twice, k9; rep from *, end last rep k7.

Row 9 K7, *inc1 twice, k11; rep from *, end last rep k8.

Cont as established, working incs on every RS row, and

working 2 sts more in each rep, until desired length.

Bind off.

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v

”Any knitter who has designed a garment comes to the problem of appropriate and original edging. Nicky Epsteinaddresses this subject with a fresh variety that should inspire knitters who are looking for unusual finishings.“—KAFFE FASSETT, textile artist, master of color, and co-author of Knitting with The Color Guys

“Nicky Epstein's imagination knows no limits. . . . [Her] imaginativeand beautiful knitted edgings and embellishments provide anendless source of creative ideas to inspire the rest of us.”—PAM ALLEN, knitwear designer

ISBN 978-1-936096-47-3

9 781936 096473

5 2 9 9 5

$29.95 US • $35.95 Canada“Nicky's edgings are nothing less than eye candy for knitters.Their thorough yet beautiful presentation, each with written instructions,stitch charts, and color photographs, makes every design absolutely clear.“—TRISHA MALCOLM, Editorial Director, Vogue® Knitting

”An innovative and beautiful edging can transform a simple knitted piece intosomething sublime, in the same way the right frame can complement, complete, and

enhance a lovely painting, taking it to a new level.”— NICKY EPSTEIN, from the Introduction

crafts • knitting

O F H E R FAV O R I T EO R I G I N A L B O R D E R S

NickyEpsteinvthe essential edgings collection

5OO

vBooks

NickyEpstein

Nicky

Epsteinvthe

essentialedgingscollection

500O

FH

ERFA

VO

RITE

OR

IGIN

AL

BO

RD

ERS

EDGE COLLECTION_PLC_FINAL:Layout 1 6/1/12 5:06 PM Page 1