Shawls & Scarves



Victoria is a solid triangular scarf that gradually becomes lacier toward its edges. Knitting at a slightly tighter gauge than fingering-weight yarn is usually knitted for shawls emphasizes the lines formed by the decreases. They create sinuous curves as the lace pattern becomes denser.

The lace motif is a development of Mrs. Montague’s Pattern, traditional in Shetland and collected by Sharon Miller in her book Heirloom Knitting.

This pattern is charted only. Every wrong-side row is purled. Skills required are: knitting and purling; casting on provisionally; working a yarn over; decreasing with k2tog, ssk, and sk2p; and binding off.

Materials required are: 1 skein Abuelita Yarns Baby Merino Lace (100% merino wool; 420 yards/384m per 100g skein); 32-inch US #4/3.5mm circular needle; stitch markers; oddment of scrap yarn; darning needle; and T-pins for blocking.

The pattern is available to purchase for $4 CAD.





Fledgling is a top-down triangular shawl designed to showcase a 400m skein of special sock yarn. The three main patterned sections are related feathery motifs that use a number of knit stitches between the yarn overs and their accompanying decreases to shape the fabric into peaks and valleys, including the wide shallow scallops that edge the piece. Only right-side rows are patterned—every wrong-side row is purled. Choose a drapey yarn in a solid or subtly variegated semi-solid color for best results.

Skills required are: knitting and purling; casting on provisionally; working a yarn over; decreasing with ssk, k2tog, sk2p, and s2kp2; and binding off. The pattern is charted, but a supplemental .pdf file with written instructions corresponding to each chart is also available to download on ravelry.com.

Materials required are: 1 skein of Viola Fancy Sock (70% alpaca, 20% silk, 10% cashmere; 437 yards/400m per 100g skein); 32-inch US #4/3.5mm circular needle; oddment of scrap yarn; stitch markers; darning needle; and T-pins for blocking.

The pattern is available to purchase for $4 CAD.



ANOTHER new shawl

First Frost is a delicate lace stole that uses construction techniques and pattern elements borrowed from Orenburg lace shawls. The stole begins with a strip of edging, from which stitches are picked up; it ends with another strip of edging attached to the stole as it is worked. The corners are mitered so that they lie beautifully flat.

The pattern uses the following skills: provisional cast-on, knitting, picking up and knitting stitches, decreasing with k2tog and sk2p, working a yarn over, working an m1 increase, wrapping and turning for short rows, and reading a chart. It is patterned on every row.

Materials required: 1 skein of Fiddlesticks Knitting Exquisite (50% merino wool, 50% mulberry silk; 546 yards/499m per 50g skein); 24-inch US #3/3mm circular needle; stitch markers; darning needle; oddment of scrap yarn; and T-pins for blocking.

The pattern is available for $6 CAD.



scarf

Little Flowers Stole & Scarf is two patterns in one: a scarf 10.5x58" and a stole 22x68", assembled from the same set of lace patterns, differently proportioned. This shawl and scarf are put together from traditional Shetland lace patterns. The diamond area in the centre, identified as "Mrs. Montague's pattern" by Sharon Miller in her book Heirloom Knitting, is a field of bead motifs; the border sections are beads interspersed with Madeira ferns. When the stole is worn, the ferns are upside-down, where they look like a child’s drawing of flowers. The edging is knit last and is attached to the stole or scarf as it is worked. The pattern is a $1.99 USD download at Knit Picks.


Beatrice 1

Beatrice is a wide lace stole designed to showcase a large stylized floral motif. The edging is knitted at the same time as the body of the shawl, neatly enclosing the central pattern in a zigzagging border. Choose a fine mohair yarn with a halo to make a shawl that's warm, lightweight, and deliciously soft.

This pattern is charted only. Skills required are: knitting; working a yarn over; decreasing with k2tog and sk2p; executing a wrap and turn; and casting on provisionally.

This pattern is available for purchase for $4.50 CAD.


It's pretty big

A simple repeating lace motif adorns Angharad, a top-down triangular shawl designed to showcase a special laceweight yarn. The hypotenuse is finished with narrow picots and the bottom is adorned with a wider, knitted-on scalloped edging to add interest to the standard construction. Choose a laceweight wool or wool blend with a crisp hand and a subtle halo to make the most of the garter stitch.

This pattern is charted only. Skills required are: casting on provisionally; knitting and purling; working a yarn over; decreasing with k2tog, ssk, and sk2p; and executing a wrap and turn.

This pattern is available for purchase for $6 CAD.


Josephine is a dramatic lace shawl inspired by Regency attire, published in Jane Austen Knits, 2011.