Cat's Paw Lace

Cat's paw is one of the best-loved Shetland lace motifs, a tidy little cluster of eyelets that reads like a small paw print dotted across a plain stockinette ground. Each paw is built from a central double decrease with paired yarn overs set around it, so a few holes group into the toes-and-pad shape, and the motifs are spaced out rather than worked all over, which makes the lace look delicate but keeps it very manageable. Because each paw is small and self-contained, cat's paw is a friendly introduction to traditional Shetland knitting and a versatile filler for shawl centres, scarves, and wraps, alone or combined with other motifs. It uses fine yarn and blocks out dramatically, the little clusters opening into crisp prints when stretched and pinned. Work from a chart, use a lifeline, and count the stitches in each motif so the yarn overs and the central decrease stay balanced and the paws sit evenly.