Pointelle is a knit with small holes worked into it on purpose, in neat rows or patterns. It looks like lace, but it’s soft and stretchy like any other knit. 

It’s also one of the biggest knitwear trends of 2026.

How pointelle is made

The holes aren’t cut in afterwards. They’re knitted in, by moving a stitch across to its neighbour so a small open eyelet forms where it used to be. Repeat that in a pattern — rows, chevrons, little diamonds — and you get pointelle.

The result is light, airy and delicate. It has been well included within the trends of whimsical, dainty and soft girl aesthetic.

Because it’s still a knit rather than a woven lace, it keeps the stretch and softness of jersey or rib. That’s why it works so well on things that sit close to the body.

Where the name comes from

The word joins “point”, an old term for lace made entirely with a needle, and the French diminutive “-elle”. So roughly: little point, or little lace.

Pointelle as we know it dates from the 1950s, when knitting machines became precise enough to place those eyelets exactly where a designer wanted them. It went on to become a staple of vests, nightwear and babywear for decades — which is exactly why it feels so nostalgic now. It is often associated with pyjamas which explains a lot of pointelle clothing being sold and worn as evening wear.

Why is pointelle so popular right now?

A few reasons, all happening at once.

The grandma-chic moment. Fashion has fallen for soft, nostalgic, slightly old-fashioned knitwear. Pointelle is the poster child. It looks handmade, a bit romantic, and completely unbothered by trends — which is, of course, why it’s become one.

The designers got there first. Pointelle has turned up in recent collections from houses like Chloé and Chanel, and the high street followed fast.

Newer brands made it an everyday staple. Brands like Cou Cou Intimates and Organic Basics have built whole ranges around soft cotton pointelle — camis, cardigans, slip skirts, briefs and loungewear. They’ve taken it out of your nan’s drawer and made it something you actually live in, from bed to the school run to dinner.

It feels like slowing down. After years of sharp tailoring and stiff fabrics, people want clothes that feel gentle. Pointelle reads as rest, warmth and comfort before you’ve even touched it.

It fits every soft aesthetic going. Cottagecore, balletcore, coquette, vintage — pointelle slots straight into all of them. A little lettuce-edge ruffle and it’s practically the uniform.

It breathes. All those tiny openings let air through. Pointelle looks cosy but wears light, which makes it far more practical than it looks.

Why pointelle works so well on socks

Socks are where pointelle quietly makes the most sense.

They sit close to the skin, so the stretch of the knit matters. They get warm, so the airiness helps. And the pattern shows a hint of skin through the eyelets, which is what gives pointelle socks that delicate, romantic look.

Knee-highs especially. Pull a pointelle sock up the leg and the whole pattern is on show, from the ankle to just below the knee. With a skirt or a dress, the sock becomes the detail the outfit is built around.

Our pointelle tabi socks

We loved the trend so much we designed our own. These are an original Tabi Co. design — you won’t find them anywhere else!

They’re close to knee-high tabi socks, knitted all the way up in a vintage-inspired pointelle pattern and finished at the top with a soft lettuce-edge ruffle. So you get the romance of pointelle and the split toe, in one pair.

Grey and Turquoise. A soft grey with a lilac undertone, finished with a turquoise ruffle. Unexpected and very pretty.

Off White and Beige. Off white with a sand-coloured ruffle. The classic, and the easiest to wear with anything.

Both are £12 a pair.

·       Knee-high, roughly 23cm from the heel

·       Fits 23cm–27cm foot length, roughly UK 4–8

·       70% cotton, 20% polyester, 10% spandex — soft, breathable and properly stretchy, so they stay up

·       Split toe, so they work with thong sandals as well as everything else

If you’re not sure of your size, our size guide has a quick two-minute measuring method.

How to wear pointelle tabi socks

Treat them as the star of the outfit and keep the rest simple.

·       With Mary Janes or ballet flats and a pleated or midi skirt — the most obvious pairing, and the best.

·       With loafers and a short dress or skirt, so the full length of the sock shows.

·       With chunky boots and a slip dress — the pointelle shows between boot and hem, and the softness plays off the heavy boot.

·       With clogs or Birkenstocks, ruffle up, for something more relaxed.

·       With your pointelle cami or cardigan. If you already own a piece from Cou Cou or Organic Basics, the socks finish the look — a proper matching moment from shoulder to toe.

·       Around the house. Knee-high and soft is a very good combination on a cold evening!

The off white is the safest starting point and goes with nearly everything. The grey and turquoise is the one that gets noticed.

Looking after pointelle

Pointelle is delicate by design, so treat it kindly.

·       Wash at 30°C, inside out, in a mesh laundry bag so nothing snags on the eyelets.

·       No fabric softener.

·       Air dry flat or hanging — never on a radiator or in the tumble dryer.

·       Keep them away from velcro, zips and jewellery in the wash.

Our sock care guide has the full detail.

Frequently asked questions

What is pointelle? A knit fabric with small, deliberate holes knitted into it in a pattern, giving a delicate, lace-like look while keeping the stretch and softness of a knit.

Is pointelle the same as lace? No. Lace is traditionally made by needle, bobbin or on a lace machine. Pointelle is a knit, with the holes created by moving stitches during knitting — so it stays stretchy and soft in a way lace usually doesn’t.

Is pointelle warm? It’s lighter than a solid knit because the eyelets let air through. That makes it comfortable across more of the year: cosy in autumn, breathable in spring. It also depends on the density to determine whether pointelle can be considered warm. It often makes a great base layer too.

Why is pointelle trending? It’s part of the wider move towards soft, nostalgic, grandma-chic knitwear. It has appeared in collections from Chloé and Chanel, newer brands like Cou Cou Intimates and Organic Basics have made it an everyday staple, and it fits cottagecore, balletcore and coquette styling perfectly.

Do pointelle socks snag? They need a little more care than a solid knit. Wash them in a mesh bag and keep them away from velcro and zips, and they’ll last well.

Are your pointelle socks knee-high? Yes. They measure roughly 23cm from the heel, with a lettuce-edge ruffle at the top.

A little bit of romance

Pointelle has been around since the 1950s and it keeps coming back, because there’s nothing else quite like it. Soft, pretty, a bit nostalgic, and more practical than it looks.

Put it on a knee-high tabi sock with a ruffle at the top, and you get something genuinely new.

Shop the Off White and Beige or the Grey and Turquoise.