Knit trickery

"What's that?" is the question people often ask when they see it.  "Is that crochet?"

No. The band in the center is the giveaway.  It's knitting, though it sure doesn't look like knitting -- at least not from a distance.

The technique is called thread lace or shadow lace.  In this case it's transparent thread lace.  A closer look reveals a transparent nylon thread, where you thought you saw a hole.

Click on image for larger view.

The thread doesn't even have to be transparent for good effect.  You can experiment with this technique by using bulky and fingering-weight yarns, of the same or different colors, in the same fabric. The effect works well for both machine knitting and hand knitting.  I like using it with fairisle and mosaic type patterns.

More information on this method can be found in my two favorite knitting books:  A Machine Knitter's Guide to Creating Fabrics by Susanna E. Lewis and Julia Weissman and The Art of Knitting: Inspirational Stitches, Textures and Surfaces by Francoise Tellier-Loumagne.

Have fun swatching!