Kora
Kora is now available for purchase as a download, for $6.00 either on Ravelry, or directly through the blog … buy now
This shawl came out of my desire for a simple project that didn’t take much thought and that would travel well. So I designed a shawl that would combine large sections of garter stitch with smaller portions of simple lace patterning. The combination of cushy garter stitch and simple lace make for relaxing knitting and a cozy finished object.
Knit in one piece from the top down, this shawl begins by casting on 12 stitches at the back of the neck and increasing eight stitches every other row to shape the shawl into a circle. But the fact that the piece is knit back and forth means that there is a slit from what would be the very center of the circle to the outer hem.
This construction lets the shawl curves easily around the shoulders and stays where you put it. It also means that this shawl could easily be turned into a circular shawl.
Yarn: 840 yards (768 meters), light fingering weight
Shown in: Madelinetosh, “Tosh Merino Light”; 2 skeins, 420 yards (384 meters)/skein, colorway ‘composition book grey’
Needles: US size 8 (5.00 mm) 40 inch (100 cm) circular, or size needed to obtain gauge
Notions: 9 stitch markers, tapestry needle
Gauge: 21 sts/4 inches; 34 rows/4 inches (30 sts/10 cm; 32 rows/10 cm) in washed and blocked garter stitch
Blocked Dimensions: 18 inches (46 cm) down the center back
Skills Used: cast on, bind off, knitting and purling, k2tog, ssk, yo, k2togtbl, weaving in ends, blocking lace
Eirwen
Eirwen is now available for purchase as a download, for $6.00 either on Ravelry, or directly through the blog … buy now
Breathe. Sit. Knit.
This shawl is simple and meditative, but not boring. The lace pattern is small, easy to memorize, and easy to knit. The stockinette rows make great resting rounds and sections. The colorwork is all just stripes, so you’re only ever working with one yarn at a time.
But together, the lace, the stockinette, the striping, combine to create a spectacular shawl.
Yarn: MC: 950 yards (868 meters), lace weight
Shown in: Madelinetosh, “Tosh Lace”; 1 skein, 950 yards (868 meters)/skein, colorway ‘citrus’
CC: 650 yards (594 meters), lace weight
Shown in: Sweet Georgia, “Merino Silk Lace”; 1 skein, 765 yards (700 meters)/skein, colorway ‘dutch’
Needles: US size 3 (3.25 mm) 1 set DPNs, 32 inch (80 cm) circular, 40 inch (100 cm) circular, or size needed to obtain gauge
Notions: 1 stitch markers, tapestry needle
Gauge: 30 sts/4 inches; 32 rows/4 inches (30 sts/10 cm; 32 rows/10 cm) in washed and blocked stockinette
Blocked Dimensions: 48 inches (122 cm) diameter, blocked
Skills Used: casting on, binding off, knitting, working in the round on circulars and DPNs, working with two colors of yarn in stripes, k2tog, ssk, sk2p, yo, weaving in ends, blocking lace
Dragons Ruff
Dragons Ruff is now available for purchase as a download, for $6.00 either on Ravelry, or directly through the blog … buy now
Inspired by the ruff many dragons are depicted with, this shawl consists of a background of garter stitch mesh interspersed with strips of stockinette that add depth. It’s finished off with a deep garter stitch border that grounds the entire piece.
Knit in one piece from the top down, this shawl begins by casting on 9 stitches at the back of the neck and increasing 7 stitches every other row to shape this shawl into 7/8ths of a circle that stays draped elegantly over the shoulders. Finally, an eyelet-increase row is worked just before the garter stitch border, and just before the bind off to ensure that a thorough blocking is possible.
Yarn: Madelinetosh ‘tosh lace,’ 950 yards (968 meters), 100% superwash merino, 1 skein, shown in ‘nebula’
Needles: US size 2.5 (3.00 mm) 40 inch (101 cm) circular, or size needed to obtain gauge
Notions: 7 stitch markers, tapestry needle
Gauge: 6.5 sts/inch; 12 rows/inch (6.5 sts/2.5 cm; 12 rows/2.5 cm) in washed and blocked garter
Blocked Dimensions: 24 inches (61 cm) from center back to each point along the hem
Skills Used: casting on, binding off, knitting, purling, k2tog, yarn over, weaving in ends, blocking lace
