Welcome to Ask Olga, where we’ll sit down with our friend Olga Buraya-Kefelian to discuss design trends and more. This month, we talked about lace—just in time for our new Nostalgia Stitch Along!
Hey Olga! What is catching your eye in spring and summer styles this year?
When looking at spring/summer trends for 2026, I discovered a general theme, which I’m calling “capture the light”! I was fascinated to see so many creative ways to have one’s knitwear capture and enhance the light. I saw styling with a myriad of sheer layers to emphasize shading and movement; there’s also a lot of focus on flax, linen, silk, and cotton, with thick and thin yarns and stitches offering lots of visible texture. There are also knit-then-cut floats to create fringes, and dropped stitches combined with soothing natural pastel tones and playful sunny yellow hues. Whether in colors or fabric characteristics, I’m seeing movement and light everywhere.
Mixing lace textures
Another trending style that caught my eye, specifically as a knitter, was the abundance of all-over lace textures: vintage filet crochet heirlooms upcycled into outfits, the minimalism of eyelets, and full-on knitted lace that allows light to peek through. Creative new ways of styling lace make those layers dynamic and catch your attention, adding fresh takes on a traditional style.
Whether you crochet, knit, weave, or tat, it’s time to bring lace back into your everyday wear! Personally, I’ve enjoyed seeing these intricate romantic accessories paired with a suit or worn as a belt or extra layer over the hips.
I’m also a fan of lace head kerchiefs that add a dash of nostalgia to any look. All of these options emphasize the contrast of lace patterning against a backdrop of everyday wear and add a modern twist to the historic, traditional art of making lace.
However, styling such an accessory can be tricky. The Nostalgia Stitch Along is a great way to try making your own in a low-stress way! Tossing on a fun shawl is easier than donning full-on garments (though we love those, too!). Stitching a lace triangular shawl, kerchief, or bandana usually uses one or two skeins of yarn, and can be livened up with different fibres, or even beads and sparkly threads. In the end, you’ll have a little something to help you capture a little light every day.
