Lace Tablecloth Beginnings

Huh, I have to crop it before I put the photo in here. Who knew? (Using mobile app to type this)

My sister, as previously stated, is getting married in August 2016. Now, I don't know that I will get this done in time for the wedding, but since it's for my mother, that hardly matters. Also, it might be a doily. Or a centerpiece. The size is not yet set. However, the beginning is!

I'm using Aunt Lydia's cotton #10 and size 0 (2 mm) needles. Starting out I am using 5 double points, but am ordering one that has a 60" cord for magic loop to final dimensions. 

Cast On 8 stitches on one dpn using disappearing loop cast on. I'm going to post a video of how I do it, which is adapted from something else, if I can figure out how to do the thing. 

Snug the stitches so they are even, but make sure you can still get a needle in to knit. Cotton is not stretchy. Using a second dpn, k4 in such a way as to join the stitches in the round. Using a third, k4. 

Now that we are happy knitting in the round

1. Kfb 8 times.

2. (And all other even rows) k all sts

3. K1, yo, k1, rep 7 more times

5. K2, yo, k1, rep 7 more times

I added 2 more dpns to the mix here to make tracking the counts easier. You could also switch to magic loop here.

7. K3, yo, k1, rep 7 more times

During round 8, redistribute stitches so the last stitch on each needle is the yarn-over. That is, the last stitch on round 7 becomes the first stitch on round 8. 

This needle trickery is so the increases at the very beginning are more even. From now on, if you are using dpns, the last stitch on each needle will be a yarn over. Make sure you can make a yarn over between 2 dpns look good before you get too far on the table cloth, because it's tricky, at least for me. Round 9 begins the first lace pattern! I'm just going to type the first repeat, and trust you know to knit it 8 times.

9. K1, yo, sl-k2tog-psso, yo, k1, yo

11. K2, yo, sl-k2tog-psso, yo, k1, yo

13. K2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl-k2tog-psso, yo, k1, yo

15. K1,  K2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl-k2tog-psso, yo, k1, yo

That's the first repeat. I am going to assume that you are using the magic loop method for the rest of the pattern. Adapt as needed, of course. Grab 8 stitch markers (if you need them to mark where each eighth ends) before you start round 16.

16. K9, pm, rep 7 more times

17. K1, yo, sl-k2tog-psso, yo, k1, yo, sl-k2tog-psso, yo, k1, yo

19. K2, yo, sl-k2tog-psso, yo, k1, yo, sl-k2tog-psso, yo, k1, yo

21. k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl-k2tog-psso, yo, k1, yo, sl-k2tog-psso, yo, k1, yo

23. K1,  k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl-k2tog-psso, yo, k1, yo, sl-k2tog-psso, yo, k1, yo

25. K1, yo, *sl-k2tog-psso, yo, k1, yo, repeat from * to marker

27. K2, yo, *sl-k2tog-psso, yo, k1, yo, repeat from * to marker

29. K2tog, yo, k1, yo, *sl-k2tog-psso, yo, k1, yo, rep from * to marker

31. K1, K2tog, yo, k1, yo, *sl-k2tog-psso, yo, k1, yo, rep from * to marker

 Repeat rounds 25 to 31 until you get to a certain number of stitches between markers. I'm not sure exactly how many, but over 42 certainly. I think I may reverse the order of the increases, so as to spin the spiral in the other directions. 

Still waiting on the needles, so I'll update with more of the pattern when I have more of it to write!

Happy Stitching!