Plaited lace does not have grounds (or nets). Instead the open areas of lace are made up of plaits. Here is one regular pattern, with diagrams showing how you could work it.
This is not worked across the lace, all at once. Instead, parts of the lace are worked, then more bobbins added on, worked, then tied off again.
Start by working the surrounds:
Some parts are very short, such as at the top. The threads are threaded through the existing lace, then wound onto bobbins. Then work the two plaits and picots. Make a sewing at the edge, then back again with more plaited and picots.
Now start at the right. One plait starts at the top, and finishes at the bottom. The other two plaits start, but stay in the lace.
Lots more plaits get started! Two plaits gets started in the middle hexagon, and go upwards and dowards. Two more get started at the edge, but two get tied off.
And so on. In this diagram I show all the different plaits in different colours. Here, you are working from right to left, so if you need a plait (or two) which don't exist, start them!
© Jo Edkins 2026 - return to lace index