Lace is a beautiful technique. In it's simplest form, it is just planned yarn overs and decreases. In its most intricate forms, bobbles or nupps are also incorporated. Lace can also be called openwork, as it has a lot of "openness" to it- meaning holes.
The decreases can vary between k2tog and Sl 1, K1, PSSO's (see the key for translation). It is important to learn both decreases, since it can make the decrease slant in a certain direction. All three of May's patterns use both types of these decreases, so you'll get plenty of practice with both!
Here are a couple of links to check out some different types of lace. Once you get the basics of it down, you can create amazing pieces of heirloom quality art! Note while all of the examples linked below are shawls, lace is not limited only to this genre, it is also used in garments, socks, and even washcloths. It's applications are infinite!
Traveling Woman, Swallowtail Shawl, Thistle Lace Shawl, Gala Shawl, or Proserpina Shawl
KEY:
yo: yarn over- A single increase. Move the yarn to the front of the work, the same action as if you were to purl, then wrap the yarn over the top of the needle and resume your knitting. This creates a hole or an eyelet in the fabric.
k2tog: knit 2 stitches together- A right-slanting decrease. Insert the needle into the next two stitches as if to knit, and knit these stitches together.
Notice the stitches to the right of the yarn overs, see how they lean to the right?
Sl 1, K1, PSSO: Slip 1 stitch, Knit 1 stitch, pass the slipped stitch over the knit stitch- This is a left-slanting decrease. 
Notice the stitches to the left of the yarn overs, see how they lean to the left?
Cast on 37 stitches
Border: Rows 1-5: K1, P1 across
Pattern:
Row 1: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) K4 * yo, (Sl 1, K1, PSSO), K7 repeat from * to last 8 stitches K3 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 2 and all even rows: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) Purl across (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 3: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) K5 * yo, Sl 1, K1, PSSO, K7, repeat from * to last 7 stitches K2 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 5: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) K6 * yo, Sl 1, K1, PSSO, K7 repeat from * to last 6 stitches K1 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 7: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) *K7, yo, Sl 1, K1, PSSO repeat from * across (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 9: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) K3 * k2tog, yo, K7 repeat from * across (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 11: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) K2 * k2tog, yo, K7 repeat from * across (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 13: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) K1 * k2tog, yo, K7 repeat from * across (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 15: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) *k2tog, yo, K7 repeat from * across (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 16: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) Purl (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Repeat these 16 rows until your square is between 8 and 8.5 inches (you'll want this swatch to be slightly smaller than the others so that when you block it there's room to "open" up the stitches) ending with either row 8 or 16.
Repeat border rows 1-5.
Bind off stitches loosely.
EASY: Vandyke Lace
Cast on 37 stitches
Border Rows 1-5: K1, P1
Pattern Rows
Row 1: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) *K4, yo, Sl 1, K1, PSSO, K3 repeat from * across (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 2 and all even rows: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) Purl (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 3: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) *K2, k2tog, yo, K1, yo, Sl 1, K1, PSSO, K2 repeat from * across (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 5: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) *K1, k2tog, yo, K3, yo, Sl 1, K1, PSSO, K1 repeat from * across (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 7: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) *k2tog, yo, K5, yo, Sl 1, K1 PSSO repeat from * across (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 8: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) Purl (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1
Repeat these 8 rows until your square is between 8 and 8.5 inches (you'll want this swatch to be slightly smaller than the others so that when you block it there's room to "open" up the stitches) ending with row 8.
Repeat border rows 1-5.
Bind off stitches loosely.
INTERMEDIATE: Candelabra Lace
Cast on 37
Border rows
Row 1-5: K1 P1
Pattern Rows:
Row 1: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) Knit (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 2 and every even row: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) Purl (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 3: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) Knit (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 5: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) K11 k2tog, yo, K1, yo, Sl 1, K1, PSSO, K11 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 7: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) K10 k2tog, yo, K3, yo, Sl 1, K1 PSSO, K10 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 9: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) K9, [k2tog, yo] twice, K1, [yo, Sl 1, K1, PSSO] twice, K9 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 11: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) K8 [k2tog, yo] twice, K3, [yo, Sl 1, K1, PSSO] twice, K8 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 13: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) K7 [k2tog, yo] 3 times, K1, [yo, Sl 1, K1, PSSO] 3 times, K7 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 14: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) Purl (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Repeat these 14 rows until your square is between 8 and 8.5 inches (you'll want this swatch to be slightly smaller than the others so that when you block it there's room to "open" up the stitches) ending with row 14.
Repeat border rows 1-5.
Bind off stitches loosely.
These patterns are on Ravelry.com as well, make a pattern page and share your swatch!
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