Two cream lace knitted squares, the Fern and Aspen Leaf blocks, displayed side-by-side on a clean background for the Lace into Spring MKAL.
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Lace into Spring MKAL: Blocks 1 & 2 Are Here!

ByCecilia, from OhLaLana!

After the cozy textures of winter, it’s time to let the light in… 

Welcome to the first day of our Spring journey! 🌸

Today, we are officially starting our Lace into Spring MKAL. While our [‘Into the Woodlands’ journey is all about those thick, squishy knit-and-purl textures, this collection is designed to bring light, air, and movement into your knitting.

We are kicking things off with a double release! Our MKAL schedule starts with two patterns this week—Block 1 (Fern)and Block 2 (Aspen Leaf)—and we will continue alternating between two-block weeks and single-block weeks throughout the project.

You can find the written instructions and charts for both blocks right here in this post to follow along for free online. If you prefer to knit offline or want to keep a high-quality version in your digital library, the full PDF pattern is available for purchase in the Oh La Lana! shop and Ravelry. Your support helps me keep the Oh La Lana! library growing!

Whether you are joining us for the full blanket or just here to add some delicate lace to your stitch library, these blocks are the perfect way to welcome the new season. Grab your yarn, find a sunny spot, and let’s start ‘Lacing into Spring’!

About the difficulty of Fern and Aspen Leaf.

Don’t let the word ‘Lace’ intimidate you! These patterns are designed for the adventurous beginner. If you can do yarn over (yo) and simple decreases (k2tog and ssk), you can knit these blocks. Try Fern first!

In this post:

Checklist for Success

  1. Download the free guide “Chart Symbols and Abbreviations” from the hub page. It will be a useful companion throughout your knitting.
  2. Use stitch markers to separate your 5-stitch garter borders from the 55-stitch lace space, and to mark each repetition of the pattern.
  3. Share your progress! Tag me @ohlalana.designs so I can see your squares coming to life!

General Instructions for Blocks 1 & 2

  1. Cast on sts

    CO 65 sts with US 6 (4 mm) needles.
    I always cast on and bind off stitches with larger needles than I use for the main work. This prevents my cast on and bind off rows from being too tight.

  2. Garter stitch bottom border

    With US 4 (3.5 mm) needles, knit 6 rows.
    Slip first stitch on every row as if you were to knit it, but without knitting it (except on the first row). It will form a neat and sturdy border.

  3. Main pattern with garter stitch side borders

    Continue working the next 93 rows as follows:
    5 garter sts, LACE pattern over 55 sts, 5 garter sts
    You can follow either the row-by-row written instructions or the chart for the Lace patterns ‘Fearn’ and ‘Aspen Leaf’.

  4. Garter stitch top border

    Knit 6 rows.

  5. Bind off

    Bind off all sts with a US 7 (4.5 mm) needle. Cut yarn and weave in ends.

  6. Blocking

    Block your square to its final measures.

Block 1: Fern

Close-up of a cream knitted lace block featuring the Fern stitch, showing delicate diagonal eyelets that create a leafy, botanical pattern with soft drape.

Fern pattern – Row-by-row instructions

  • Over 18 sts and 8 rows. I added 1 more st to complete an internal space of 55 sts.
  • Repeat instructions between brackets a total of 3 times.

Note: use stitch markers to signal each repeat. This way, you can notice if you missed some stitch in the row.

Row 1) (RS) [p2, yo, k2, ssk, yo, k2, sk2p, k2, yo, k2tog, k2, yo, p1], p1

Row 2) k1, [k1, p15, k2]

Row 3) [p2, k1, yo, k2, ssk, k5, k2tog, k2, yo, k1, p1], p1

Row 4) k1, [k1, p15, k2]

Row 5) [p2, k2, yo, k2, ssk, k3, k2tog, k2, yo, k2, p1], p1

Row 6) k1, [k1, p15, k2]

Row 7) [p2, k3, yo, k2, ssk, k1, k2tog, k2, yo, k3, p1], p1

Row 8) k1, [k1, p15, k2]

To knit this pattern for 93 rows (as instructed before), work the entire 8-row pattern 11 times complete, and then rows 1) to 5) again.

Fern pattern – Chart

  • Read all odd rows from right to left, and all even rows from left to right.

Note: use stitch markers to signal each repeat. This way, you can notice if you missed some stitch in the row.

To knit this pattern for 93 rows (as instructed before), work the entire 8-row pattern 11 times complete, and then rows 1) to 5) again.

Block 2: Aspen Leaf

The Aspen Leaf block features a central ‘stem’ of eyelets that gives the piece beautiful vertical structure. It’s a rhythmic knit that looks much more complex than it actually is!

Close-up of a cream knitted lace block featuring the Aspen Leaf stitch, with a central vertical stem and symmetrical eyelet 'veins' forming a crisp leaf shape.

Aspen Leaf pattern – Row-by-row instructions

  • Over 18 sts and 8 rows. I added 7 sts to complete an internal space of 55 sts.
  • Repeat instructions between brackets a total of 3 times.

Note: use stitch markers to signal each repeat. This way, you can notice if you missed some stitch in the row.

Row 1) (RS) p1, k1, p1, [k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, yo, sk2p, yo, k1, p1, k1, p1], k1, p1, k1, p1

Row 2) p1, k1, p1, k1, [p1, k1, p1, k5, p1, k1, p1, k1], p1, k1, p1

Row 3) p1, k1, p1, [k1, p1, k1, p1, k5, p1, k1, p1], k1, p1, k1, p1

Row 4) p1, k1, p1, k1, [p1, k1, p1, k1, p3, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1], p1, k1, p1

Row 5) p1, k1, p1, [k1, p1, k1, p1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, p1, k1, p1], k1, p1, k1, p1

Row 6) p1, k1, p1, k1, [p1, k1, p7, k1, p1, k1], p1, k1, p1

Row 7) p1, k1, p1, [k1, p1, k1, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk, k1, p1], k1, p1, k

Row 8) p1, k1, p1, k1, [p1, k1, p7, k1, p1, k1], p1, k1, p1

Row 9) yo, ssk, p1, [k1, p1, k2tog, yo, k5, yo, ssk, p1], k1, p1, k2tog, yo

Row 10) p3, k1, [p11, k1], p3

Row 11) yo, k1, ssk, [k1, k2tog, yo, k7, yo, ssk], k1, k2tog, yo, k1

Row 12) p3, k1, [p11, k1], p3

Row 13) k3, [k1, ssk, k3, yo, k1, yo, k3, k2tog], k4

Row 14) p3, k1, [p11, k1], p3

Row 15) k3, [k1, ssk, k3, yo, k1, yo, k3, k2tog], k4

Row 16) p3, k1, [p11, k1], p3

Row 17) k1, k2tog, yo, [k1, yo, ssk, k7, k2tog, yo], k1, yo, ssk, k1

Row 18) p3, k1, [p11, k1], p3

Row 19) k2tog, yo, p1, [k1, p1, yo, ssk, k5, k2tog, yo, p1], k1, p1, yo, ssk

Row 20) p1, k1, p1, k1, [p1, k1, p7, k1, p1, k1], p1, k1, p1

Row 21) k2, p1, [k1, p1, k1, yo, ssk, k3, k2tog, yo, k1, p1], k1, p1, k2

Row 22) p1, k1, p1, k1, [p1, k1, p7, k1, p1, k1], p1, k1, p1

Row 23) p1, k1, p1, [k1, p1, k1, p1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, p1, k1, p1], k1, p1, k1, p1

Row 24) p1, k1, p1, k1, [p1, k1, p1, k1, p3, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1], p1, k1, p1

Row 25) p1, k1, p1, [k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, yo, sk2p, yo, k1, p1, k1, p1], k1, p1, k1, p1

Row 26) p1, k1, p1, k1, [p1, k1, p1, k5, p1, k1, p1, k1], p1, k1, p1

Row 27) p1, k1, p1, [k1, p1, k1, p1, k5, p1, k1, p1], k1, p1, k1, p1

Row 28) p1, k1, p1, k1, [p1, k1, p1, k1, p3, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1], p1, k1, p1

To knit this pattern for 93 rows (as instructed before), work the entire 28-row pattern 3 times complete, and then rows 1) to 9) again.

Aspen Leaf pattern – Chart

  • Read all odd rows from right to left, and all even rows from left to right.

Note: use stitch markers to signal each repeat. This way, you can notice if you missed some stitch in the row.

To knit this pattern for 93 rows (as instructed before), work the entire 28-row pattern 3 times complete, and then rows 1) to 9) again.

Remember to block your squares!

Lace only truly ‘blooms’ once it is off the needles. To get the crisp definition you see in the photos, I highly recommend wet blocking your squares.

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