Chevron Lace
rows of eyelets that zigzag into peaks and valleys, an open chevron or ripple lace
Chevron lace arranges yarn overs and decreases so the fabric ripples into regular peaks and valleys, with a line of eyelets tracing each zigzag. At the peak of every repeat you place decreases that pull the stitches together, and on the way down you add yarn overs that open holes and push the fabric back out, so the surface waves up and down while the eyelets outline the chevron. It is the airy, holey cousin of the solid chevron or ripple stitch, and like feather and fan it turns a simple balance of increases and decreases into a striking all-over pattern. Worked with plain purl wrong-side rows it is very manageable for a first lace, and it looks especially good in a gradient or self-striping yarn that follows the peaks. It suits shawls, light blankets, and scarves, and blocks open into soft scallops along the edges. Keep the yarn overs and decreases paired on each row so the count holds, and a chart makes the zigzag easy to follow.