Spetsstorlek

Spetsstorlek is a term used in textile crafts to describe the size or scale of lace motifs or edging within a pattern. The word combines spets, meaning lace, with storlek, size, and signifies how large the decorative elements are intended to appear in the finished lace.

It is not a fixed measurement but a pattern-specific parameter. Spetsstorlek is determined by the overall gauge of the work, including the number of stitches or repeats per unit length, the width of each motif, and the relationship between thread thickness, needle or shuttle size, and tension. Patterns may specify spetsstorlek as a width (for example, the finished edge is intended to be 2–4 cm wide) or as the size of a motif (such as repeats of a 1.5 cm motif).

In practice, crafters adjust spetsstorlek by changing yarn weight, hook or needle size, or by selecting a pattern repeat with different numbers of stitches. Blocking and finishing can also alter the final size. In machine-made lace, the machine’s settings effectively fix the spetsstorlek, though designers may publish options for different scales.

Spetsstorlek is related to other drafting and production considerations in lace and embroidery, such as yarn quality, tool size, and the chosen pattern repeats. It is commonly encountered in pattern books and instructions for various lace forms, including bobbin lace, needle lace, crochet lace, and machine-made lace, where it helps determine the visual proportion of the design relative to the finished item.