BUY IT NOW : Second Book of Modern Lace Knitting by Marianne Kinzel Classic Pattern Design
Lace Knitting Essential: Second Book of Modern Lace Knitting by Marianne Kinzel – Definitive Collector’s Guide and Review of Vintage Lace Patterns
Marianne Kinzel’s Second Book of Modern Lace Knitting stands as a definitive masterwork in the canon of 20th-century needlework literature. Originally published in the United Kingdom during the peak of Kinzel’s influence in the 1960s, this volume codified a new standard for knitted lace that bridged traditional Shetland, Estonian, and continental European openwork with mid-century domestic craft. For collectors, advanced knitters, and textile historians, the book represents far more than a pattern collection; it is a technical archive of heirloom lace construction at a time when hand-knitted table linens and ecclesiastical textiles defined domestic artistry.
Unlike contemporary lace compendiums that rely on simplified repeats, Kinzel’s second volume preserves the rigorous discipline of vintage lace knitting. Every design requires precise execution of decreases, yarn overs, and directional shaping to achieve geometric and floral openwork that remains structurally stable after blocking. This guide provides a complete entity-level analysis of the book’s contents, technical requirements, historical significance, and investment value for the serious collector and practitioner.
Who Was Marianne Kinzel and Why Her Lace Knitting Books Define a Genre
Marianne Kinzel (née Marianne Kinzel) was a Czech-born designer and knitter who became one of the most authoritative voices in British lace knitting after World War II. Working with publishers including Arthur Pearson and later Dover Publications for reprints, Kinzel authored two seminal volumes: the First Book of Modern Lace Knitting (1954) and the Second Book of Modern Lace Knitting (1961). Her work emerged during a revival of home crafts in post-war Britain, when knitting transitioned from utility to decorative art.
Kinzel’s authority derived from her systematic approach to lace engineering. She standardized charting conventions for complex motifs, translated continental lace traditions for English-speaking knitters, and documented techniques for knitting large circular pieces without contemporary circular needles. Her patterns are recognized by the Victoria and Albert Museum textile archives and remain reference points for Shetland lace, Orenburg lace, and Scandinavian openwork studies.
Marianne Kinzel’s Contribution to Modern Lace Knitting Literature
Before Kinzel, most English lace patterns were distributed as loose leaflets or in women’s magazines with inconsistent notation. Kinzel introduced a unified system of written line-by-line instructions paired with gridded charts using precise symbols for yarn over, knit two together (k2tog), slip-slip-knit (ssk), slip-knit-pass (skp), and centered double decreases (sk2p). The Second Book expanded this system to include multi-page charts for tablecloths exceeding 1500 stitches on the final round, a technical feat that required meticulous error-checking before digital pattern software existed.
Inside the Second Book of Modern Lace Knitting: Pattern Inventory and Technical Specifications
The Second Book of Modern Lace Knitting contains approximately 20 complete large-scale patterns plus numerous border, insertion, and edging variations. The collection is engineered for knitters with intermediate to advanced proficiency in lace construction, chart reading, and circular knitting techniques. Unlike modern project books focused on garments, this volume is dedicated exclusively to household and heirloom textiles.
Featured Projects: Tablecloths, Doilies, Stoles, and Edgings
Projects are categorized by scale and construction method, allowing knitters to select work appropriate to their skill and available time. Each pattern specifies center-out, straight, or modular construction.
- Circular Tablecloths: Large-scale center-out designs ranging from 60 to 72 inches in diameter, featuring medallion centers, radiating leaf and diamond motifs, and integrated knitted borders. These require 800 to 1200 yards of laceweight yarn and blocking wires for finishing.
- Doilies and Centerpieces: Smaller circular and square mats from 12 to 24 inches, ideal for practicing Kinzel’s chart system before attempting full tablecloths. Includes the renowned Spider, Fern, and Rosebud variations.
- Stoles and Shawl Borders: Rectangular and triangular lace panels with repeatable all-over patterns suitable for adaptation into modern wraps and scarves.
- Lace Edgings and Insertions: Narrow borders from 1 to 4 inches wide for trimming pillowcases, handkerchiefs, and ecclesiastical linens. These edgings are knitted lengthwise and can be grafted or sewn to fabric.
- Supply Project Variations: Several motifs include instructions for adaptation into tray cloths, chair sets, and runner constructions.
Instructional Format: Written Line-by-Line vs. Charted Lace Diagrams
Every major pattern includes dual notation. The written instructions provide row-by-row directions for knitters who prefer text, while the accompanying charts offer a visual map of the lace architecture where each square represents a stitch and each symbol denotes an operation. The introductory section defines all symbols, abbreviations, and Kinzel’s specific conventions for odd and even rounds, wrong-side purl rows, and stitch counts after increase rounds. This dual system ensures accuracy when navigating complex repeats of 24 to 72 stitches.
| Attribute | Specification Detail |
|---|---|
| Author | Marianne Kinzel |
| Title | Second Book of Modern Lace Knitting |
| Original Publisher | Arthur Pearson Ltd., London (1961); Dover reprints 1972 onward |
| Content Focus | Heirloom knitted lace: tablecloths, doilies, centerpieces, edgings, insertions |
| Instruction Format | Written row-by-row instructions plus gridded lace charts with symbol key |
| Skill Level | Intermediate to Advanced; requires proficiency in yarn over, k2tog, ssk, sk2p, and circular knitting |
| Recommended Yarn | Cobweb or 2-ply laceweight cotton, linen, or wool; modern equivalent: 800-1000m per 100g |
| Needle Specifications | 1.25mm to 2.00mm steel lace needles or modern circular needles for large diameters |
| Techniques Covered | Center-out circular cast on, chart reading, nupps, blocking and dressing lace |
Collector Value and Rarity Assessment for Vintage Knitting Bibliophiles
The Second Book of Modern Lace Knitting holds significantly higher collector value than its predecessor due to lower initial print runs and fewer Dover reprint cycles. First edition Pearson copies with original dust jackets showing Kinzel’s signature lace photography are classified as scarce textile ephemera. Collectors prioritize completeness, chart legibility, and absence of handwritten annotations, as many working copies were heavily used and marked.
Dover paperback reprints retain technical value but lack the investment premium of the original hardcover. The book’s rarity is compounded by its status as a closed corpus; unlike modern publishers, Kinzel’s lace corpus was never digitized or expanded, making original printed copies the sole authoritative source for these specific pattern iterations. Market demand is sustained by heritage knitters, lace guilds, and textile museum libraries seeking to preserve pre-digital lace architecture.
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Technical Mastery Required: Skill Level and Yarn Compatibility
This volume is not intended for beginners learning basic knit and purl. Successful execution requires mastery of maintaining stitch count across lace rows, reading complex charts without reliance on stitch markers alone, and managing long circular rounds with lifelines. Knitters must be comfortable with lace knitting on every round, as most Kinzel tablecloths are worked in the round with patterning on both right-side and wrong-side rows in later editions.
Authentic construction calls for fine, tightly spun laceweight yarn with high stitch definition. Historically, Kinzel specified mercerized cotton crochet thread sizes 20 to 80 or 2-ply Shetland cobweb wool. Modern substitutes include Haapsalu-style Estonian lace yarn, Japanese cotton lace thread, or 100% linen laceweight. Steel or high-quality bamboo needles in sizes 1.5mm to 2.0mm provide the rigidity needed to maintain gauge at 32 to 40 stitches per 10cm after blocking. Aggressive blocking with stainless steel pins and wires is mandatory to open the yarn overs and reveal the intended motif geometry.
Why This Volume Remains Superior to Modern Lace Knitting Compilations
Contemporary lace books often simplify patterns for accessibility, reducing repeat complexity and substituting worsted or fingering weight yarns that obscure fine openwork. Kinzel’s Second Book preserves uncompromising pattern integrity, offering repeats that shift organically across the fabric rather than stacking vertically for ease. The result is lace with superior drape, negative space, and structural authenticity that cannot be replicated by scaled-up modern translations.
For the knitter seeking heirloom results, the book provides a complete education in lace engineering rather than isolated projects. The concentration on table linens teaches circular math, natural edge finishing without applied borders, and compensated increases that maintain flatness in large diameters. These competencies transfer directly to shawl, veil, and garment lace, making the book a foundational reference that improves all subsequent lace work.
Answers & FAQs
How does the Second Book differ from Marianne Kinzel’s First Book of Modern Lace Knitting?
The Second Book contains larger, more architecturally complex circular tablecloths with expanded charts and integrated borders, while the First Book focuses on smaller doilies and introductory motifs. The second volume assumes prior mastery of Kinzel’s chart symbols and introduces advanced multi-stage constructions requiring precise stitch management across more than 1000 stitches.
What specific yarn and needle sizes are required for authentic execution of these vintage lace patterns?
Authentic execution requires cobweb-weight or 2-ply lace yarn such as size 40 to 80 mercerized cotton or 800m per 100g wool laceweight. Needles should be 1.25mm to 2.00mm steel lace needles or modern long circulars, with final gauge determined only after wet blocking and pinning.
Are the lace charts in this book compatible with contemporary lace knitting notation?
Yes, Kinzel’s symbols for yarn over, k2tog, ssk, and centered double decreases align closely with modern international lace chart standards. The introductory key defines each symbol explicitly, so knitters familiar with current chart reading can interpret the diagrams with minimal conversion.
What determines the collector value of this title versus later Dover reprints?
Original Arthur Pearson hardcover editions with intact dust jackets and unmarked charts command the highest value due to scarcity and historical provenance. Dover reprints are widely available and technically complete but lack the first-edition premium sought by textile bibliophiles and institutional archives.
For knitters and collectors seeking to preserve authentic mid-century lace engineering, this volume remains an irreplaceable archive. Check availability and purchase this vintage volume on eBay
BUY IT NOW : Second Book of Modern Lace Knitting by Marianne Kinzel Classic Pattern Design
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