I’ve been working on this lace shawl pattern recently and I can’t get enough of it! The stitch pattern evolved for a hat, but this yarn, Oh So Fine! from Cat and Sparrow is so beautiful I wanted to make the most of the skein. It’s knitting up really quickly, despite the cast on being 275 stitches. I’m approaching the end of the lace section and will be working short rows in garter stitch next to create a crescent shape. I’m excited to see how it looks all finished and blocked!
It feels like forever since I last released a pattern. Having two kids, starting a business in between them and lack of sleep didn’t leave much time for design work! The good news is I am back on track and I now have ideas spilling out of me now the littles are out of the house a bit more in the daytime.
I’m really pleased with this one, the pattern was such a joy to knit and it grew really quickly. I love knitting lace and working with 4ply for hats, it’s always much warmer than you think. The pattern is made up of a series of intricate yarn overs and decreases, forming an offset stacking arch effect. Decreases are worked into the pattern in the crown, creating a star on the top.
I was swatching for this hat last year but I couldn’t work out what I was going to do with it. I really love how the pattern looks in Coopknits Socks Yeah! as the stitch definition is amazing. However one of my testers Carola (@Poachtna) worked it in a mohair blend which looks equally fantastic:
The pattern is multi-sized from teen to large adult and is worked from the bottom up in the round.
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**Updated 2022**
I wrote this knitting pattern around Christmas time, but it was decided that it would go in our special bumper edition of The Knitter Issue 100. The socks are knitted in Coopknits Socks Yeah! which comes in 10 awesome colours and I love them all equally.
Using Judy’s Magic Cast On, the pattern is knitted toe-up, with a 4-row lace repeat worked across the instep. After you have turned the heel you get to mix things up a bit and knit some cables up the leg. This makes it a fun sock that doesn’t get monotonous – and it obliterates second sock syndrome as the foot section knits up quite quickly.
Errata from the version in The Knitter
In Chart A, the cable in row 1 should show the same as the cable in row 3, and they should both be worked as thus: slip next st to cn and hold at front of work, K1, then K1 from cn. (This has been corrected on the most recent PDF)
SIZES
To Fit Foot Circumference
S (M: L)
19.5 (22: 26)cm
7.5 (8.75: 10.25)in
Actual Foot Circumference
S (M: L)
151/2 (17: 20)cm
6 (6.75: 7.75)in
YARN
Coop Knits Socks Yeah! (75% superwash merino, 25% nylon; 50g/212m/231yds)
2 x 50g skeins of Ammolite
NEEDLES
A set of 2.25mm (UK 13/US 1) double pointed needles (DPNs) or circular needles, 80cm long if using Magic Loop method
NOTIONS
2 stitch markers
TENSION
36 sts and 53 rounds to 10x10cm (4x4in) over st st using 2.25mm (UK 13/US 1) needles.
Instep Chart measures 4cm from centre of wrap3 to centre of next wrap3
**EDIT** Originally published in The Knitter 71, now available as a digital download
I’m so excited about this pattern. Reversible socks! This came about sort of accidently, I created the stitch pattern, tweaked it in Illustrator and then was swatching to see what it would look like. Happy with the results, I cast on and began sock one. When I reached the heel, I realised I preferred the sock inside out, and decided the sole would need to be knitted in such a way the sock could be worn either way around.
Moss stitch was out – I personally love it, but I know a lot of people loath it, and the prospect of knitting the sole using 4ply yarn alternating knits and purls might put some people off. So I swatched some garter stitch. Man, this yarn looks good in garter stitch! I love the subtle colour changes that are apparent throughout the pattern, but there is something about this simple stitch. Plus, a garter sole gives you a little foot massage and adds a certain squish that you wouldn’t get with stocking stitch.
The yarn I used is Violet Green Solemate, 100% merino, 400m/100g. It’s lush, try it!
Also in this issue is this gorgeous shawl by Anniken Allis, modelled by yours truly! I had to pop this in as it’s not every day I get made up like a superstar, but also the shawl is beautiful and is getting a lot of love on Ravelry already. Knitted in a fab orange shade of Cashmered’s 3ply Cashmere, I found it really hard to give this back!
Photos by Jesse Wild
This pattern is a fun lace repeat worked in the round, which is decreased to a flower at the top. This yarn was absolutely gorgeous to work with, it feels great in your hands and the stitch definition is amazing, which is why I chose to use it for this design.
The hat pattern is written for three sizes, from 53-60cm (21-23.5in) head circumference. Due to the width of the lace repeat, each size is made with different needles, so make sure you check which size you’ll need.
SIZES
To Fit Head Circumference
S (M: L)
53 (56: 60)cm
21 (22: 23.5)in
Actual Hat Circumference
50.5 (53: 57)cm
20 (21: 22.5)in
Length Crown to Hem
24 (28.5: 29.5)cm
9.5 (11.25: 11.75)in
YARN
Fyberspates Vivacious DK (DK weight; 100% superwash merino; 230m/251yds per 115g skein)
1 x 115g skein of Sunshine (804)
NEEDLES AND NOTIONS
Small and Large sizes only
A set of 3mm (US 2-3/ UK 11) double pointed needles (DPNs) or a circular needle, 40cm long
A set of 3.5mm (US 4/ UK 10-9) double pointed needles (DPNs) or a circular needle, 40cm long
Medium size only
A set of 3.5mm (US 4/ UK 10-9) double pointed needles (DPNS) or a circular needle, 40cm long
A set of 4mm (US 6/UK 8) double pointed needles (DPNs) or a circular needle, 40cm long
All sizes
Stitch markers
I started working on the new pattern about 2 years ago and settled on this as the main cable design. Can you imagine that as a hoodie? I can and will!
So this week I got to work on looking at other cable stitch patterns and deciding what I did and didn’t like. This one is simple but you need a couple of basic cables in there, or else it starts to look too fussy.
I also made a honeycomb stitch swatch which I think is totally awesome, but it ran away and hid somewhere after blocking and hasn’t been seen since. If you’re wondering what I’m on about, it looks like this.
However… Late on Wednesday night, after swatching, frogging, blocking, snapping etc, and generally having cables tangling around my head for the best part of 6 days, I thought, “hang on.. those 10 balls I have of Rowan Wool Cotton are 50g, not 100g. How the hell am I going to make a cable hoodie out of that?”
Darn.
So back to square one. I got on to Ravelry to see what other people had made with Rowan Wool Cotton and discovered something great.. This yarn likes to be knit as lace!
Obviously one is cabled and one just has the effect of cables, but it is the lattice look that I am referring to. And although this pattern will be up for sale once it is complete, the designs that I write are based on things that I want to wear myself. I’m not at the stage yet where I can create something, put hours into it and then sell it or give it away.
So then I tried this stitch out.
There’s something about it I’m not sure about, and I think it’s the fact it’s so uniform. I can just see it draping in lacy rib down the front, and I find that a bit.. boring? Plus there are too many holes to make it warm.
This was the last stitch I tried out it made me happy to knit. The pattern wasn’t too repetitive and I liked how neat it looked after blocking. Initially, I felt, yay! I’ve found the one!
But now I’m not so sure! I’m drawn back to the lattice stitch every time I look at the swatch. So thought I’d ask for help. Imagine a round neck, classic style cardigan in either of these stitches.
Which would you go for?
Please welcome the latest pattern to my collection – Heather! This bolero was created in Erika Knight’s ‘Vintage Wool’, which is British worsted weight 100% wool.
The name ‘Heather’ was chosen by Tracy at Woolly World of Me, and I think it suits it very well! The bolero is pretty and girly, yet chunky so it progresses quickly.
The warmth of the wool and the looseness of the stitches create a perfect drape, keeping the shrug soft and cosy, yet allowing the air in so you don’t get too warm.
This pattern is fun and quick, easily memorised and will suit knitters new to lace. Created as one piece, this can be knitted in a few evenings in front of the tv, and is perfect for those summer/autumn evenings after the sun has gone down 🙂
