We also dive into the stockinette version of Cockleshell Lace, so you might want to check it out too!
What I Used
Yarn: Berroco Tillie in 10915 Fay – 62% Pima Cotton, 38% Cupro (343 yds [150 m] per 100 g)
Needles: US#8 (5 mm) sharp steel tips (Chiaogoo – affiliate link)
Blocking Method: Steam
How to Knit Cockleshell Garter Lace
Row 1 (RS):*K1, yo, k5, cdd, k5, yo, rep from * until 1 st rem, k1.
Row 2 and all WS rows: Knit.
Row 3: *K2, yo, k4, cdd, k4, yo, k1, rep from * until 1 st rem, k1.
Row 5: *K3, yo, k3, cdd, k3, yo, k2, rep from * until 1 st rem, k1.
Row 7: *K4, yo, k2, cdd, k2, yo, k3, rep from * until 1 st rem, k1.
Row 9: *K5, yo, k1, cdd, k1, yo, k4, rep from * until 1 st rem, k1.
Row 11: *K6, yo, cdd, yo, k5, rep from * until 1 st rem, k1.
Other Thoughts
Choosing the way the yarn is dyed and whether it’s appropriate for a stitch pattern is a very personal thing. I’ve tried to be as impartial as possible and just give you the effects of a given yarn, although I’m sure that some of my personal preferences are showing.
Solid – A solid yes.
Semi-solid – That’s pretty much what I used in the sample above, so yes.
Speckled/Splattered – Yes, but I’d suggest swatching first. I envision that more-strongly variable yarns might not show the CDD as well. And, the eyelets might not show up as well either.
Both types of Stripes – Purl bumps (which is what you get in Garter Stitch) can work to blend one color with another. This blending can be an asset or a liability – and you’re not going to know unless you swatch. And even when you do, your yarn might have varying lengths of each stripe. Depending on I’ve known people to pull out an entire stripe of color because they just didn’t like the look.
Self-Striping – I’d suggest swatching this one first. Garter Stitch can alter and even hide shorter stripes of color and I wouldn’t want you to be disappointed.
I can also imagine that certain stripes might interfere with either the CDD or the eyelets. But, on the other hand, stripes could highlight the dips that occur because of the CDDs.
Long Color Changes – In most cases I can see this working. However, yarns that have a rather sudden switch from Color A to Color B, might have an issue with Cockleshell.
About the Reviewer: Jody Richards
I’m the knitting-obsessed, crochet-loving, math-geeky, web-dev girl behind Knotions. I’m passionate about helping crafters become even better at what they love, whether that means understanding why a stitch works a certain way or discovering their next favorite yarn.
Crafting runs deep in my roots—my mom was an avid embroiderer and sewist, and she sparked my lifelong love of all things crafty. Since those early days, I’ve combined my degrees in Math and Computer Science with over two decades of experience in digital marketing to build Knotions into a place that’s both fun and informative.
My mission at Knotions is simple: to empower crafters to craft smarter. Let’s make something awesome together!
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