A Third Basic Vandyke Edge

The pattern for today is another basic Vandyke. It has 4 squares in the border, 4 points along each side of the Vandyke, 1 square at the point, and 1 column of squares between Vandykes.

The pattern for this Vandyke is:

First Vandyke with straight, vertical side

Tie the thread from the netting needle onto the foundation loop, leaving a 6" tail.

Row 1: Net 2 more knots in the foundation loop. (2 loops in the row)
Row 2: Net 1 knot in the first loop and 2 knots in the last loop. (3 loops in the row)
Row 3: Net 1 knot in each loop for 2 loops, net 2 knots in the last loop. (4 loops in the row)
Row 4: Net 1 knot in each loop for 3 loops, net 2 knots in the last loop. (5 loops in the row)
Row 5: Net 1 knot in each loop. (5 loops in the row)
Row 6: Net 1 knot in each loop for 4 loops, net 2 knots in the last loop. (6 loops in the row)
Row 7: Net 1 knot in each loop. (6 loops in the row)
Row 8: Net 1 knot in each loop for 5 loops, net 2 knots in the last loop. (7 loops in the row)
Row 9: Net 1 knot in each loop. (7 loops in the row)
Row 10: Net 1 knot in each loop for 6 loops, net 2 knots in the last loop. (8 loops in the row)
Row 11: Net 1 knot in each loop. (8 loops in the row)
Row 12: Net 1 knot in each loop for 7 loops, net 2 knots in the last loop. (9 loops in the row)
Row 13: Net 1 knot in each loop for 5 loops, turn the netting and prepare to start the next row, leaving the other 4 loops to form one side of the Vandyke.

Repeating Vandyke
Rows 6-13: Repeat instructions to create a new Vandyke.

Last Vandyke with a straight vertical side
Row 1: Net 1 knot in each loop for 4 loops, net 2 knots in the last loop. (6 loops in the row)
Row 2: Net 1 knot in each loop. (6 loops in the row)
Row 3: Net 1 knot in each loop. (6 loops in the row)
Row 4: Net 1 knot in each loop. (6 loops in the row)
Row 5: Net 1 knot in each loop for 4 loops, net the last 2 loops together. (5 loops in the row)
Row 6: Net 1 knot in each loop. (5 loops in the row)
Row 7: Net 1 knot in each loop for 3 loops, net the last 2 loops together. (4 loops in the row)

Forming the first square of the netting.
1. Remove the foundation loop from row 1 of the netting.
2. Tie the tail onto a tapestry needle, which is used in place of the netting needle.
3. Place the foundation-loop cord through another row of meshes.
4. Tie the foundation-loop cord into a circle and attach it to a tension device.
5. Net the first two loops together without using a mesh stick.




If you would like to know the math involved, here it is.

To find how many final Vandykes are needed:

• If the number of squares in the border is less than or equal to 2 times the number of points -1 then you have just 1 final Vandyke.
• If the number of squares in the border is greater than 2 times the number of points -1 then you need more than 1 final Vandyke.

          Example: 

• number of squares in the border 4 
• number of points is 4 then 2 times 4 subtract 1 = 7
• since the number of squares in the border is less than the other number we will need 1 Vandyke.

To determine which of the 4 types of instructions to use for the final Vandyke:

1. Double the number of points along one side of the Vandyke (for this example the answer is 8)
2. Subtract 1 (for our example the answer is 7)
3. Subtract the number of squares in the border from the result (for this example 7-4 = 3)

When the answer is an odd number greater than 1 (in this week's example, the number is 3)- Alternate increase and plain rows (which combined equal one less than the odd number), then net two plain rows, and finally alternate decrease and plain rows (until the last decrease row, which has no plain row following it). You can tell it is the last decrease row because it has the correct number of loops on the last side of the final Vandyke.