Centres - are usually smaller, regularly spaced, repeating patterns normally used for the middles of shawls, stoles, etc. (see the example on the next page ). The simplest of all of the centres are garter stitched or moss stitched squares or rectangles. Centres can make useful patterns for jumpers, cardigans, etc. Another descriptive Shetland term for a centre pattern is an 'Allover'.

Borders - are normally much larger patterns and are often directional (this means they have a 'right way up'). They can be made up of groups of smaller lace motifs in panels of larger formal geometric shapes. Borders are usually the part where most artistic individuality is shown and it's useful to design these first and then choose complementing Centre and Edging patterns.

Edgings - are called 'Laces' in Shetland. Edgings are what they say, the strip of knitting that traditionally surrounds a piece and are made either first or last. Classic Shetland shawls and stoles do not have any casting on as such: the stitches for knitting the borders or centres are picked up from a long edging strip that's made first of all - the strip itself would either have a very narrow cast-on or an 'invisible cast-on'. All this care was taken so that the finished item was as elastic as possible and had no detracting seams. Edgings have an inside, or straight edge that joins to the knitting and an outside, usually pointed, decorative edge.