Wraps • The Knitting Vortex

Allotrope Cubes

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Oct 282023

Diamond is the compact and dense allotrope, or distinct structural element, that forms from carbon at very high pressure. This shawl is a lattice of interlocking cubic shapes in garter stitch and yarnovers, worked from the bottom up in an expanding structure. Wide garter borders on all sides create a simple frame for the strong and striking geometry of the diamond arrangement. Construction: Allotrope Cubes begins at the bottom center point, and is worked to the long top edge, with geometrically expanding interlocking lace diamonds and a wide garter border. Techniques & Skills Used: longtail CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, easy lace; this pattern is both fully written and charted. Size: S (L); 83 (87)” length and 29 (32)” depth. Yarn: Dream In Color Smooshy (85% superwash merino wool, 15% nylon; 420 yards/284m/114g); 2 (3) skeins, or approximately 750 (900) yards of wool blend fingering weight yarn. The size L sample was made with discontinued Dream In Color Stardust Experimentals (98% superwash merino wool, 2% nylon; 450 yards/411m/114g), shown in Persimmon; 2 skeins. Other Materials: US 5 (3.75mm) 32” circular needle, . . .

Kimberlite Pipes

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May 182023

Kimberlite Pipes is a shawl that represents the transformation of carbon into diamonds, working their way up through the earth’s mantle. Cast on at the bottom point, this shawl expands upwards in tiers of interlocking diamonds, beginning fully as lace, transitioning through half garter/ half lace, and finally reaching fully garter shapes. Diagonal rows of yarnovers separate the diamonds throughout, and outline the wide garter borders on all sides. Techniques & Skills Used: knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, easy lace; this pattern is both fully written and charted. Size: 74” length and 40” depth, customizable. Yarn: Birch Hollow Fibers Morrison MCN Sock (80% superwash merino wool, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon; 435 yards/ 398m/100g), shown in Winter Wheat; 2 skeins or 870 yards of wool blend fingering weight yarn. The sample used almost all of the yarn; see Designer’s Notes for suggestions on adjusting for different yardage. Other Materials: US 5 (3.75mm) 24” circular needle, or size to match gauge; Markers (3, or more if marking reps); Yarn needle. Gauge: 16 st and 32 rows/4” in garter stitch, 16 st and 24 rows/4” in . . .

Rivelley

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Sep 302022

A one-skein shawl for that special luxury yarn, Rivelley is a long stole that forms a plane of smooth stockinette with a textured valley of garter rivels that emanate outward diagonally from the center line. With a gradual slow shift in shape, and a subtly nuanced texture from the decorative rimples, this sophisticated stole is perfect for an elegant solid or tonal semi-solid yarn. Construction: Rivelley is cast on at the pointy tip, and worked on the bias in a long sweep with shaping at both the edges and the center. As the stole grows, the subtly textured central rivels expand slowly and move gently with the overall shape of the shawl. To adjust for different amounts of yardage, work more or fewer repeats within any section after the setup. The sample yarn is discontinued, some suggested substitutions include Seven Sisters Arts Apex, Magpie Fibers Swanky Sock, Dream In Color Smooshy Cashmere, or 400 yards of any cashmere/silk and wool blend fingering weight yarn. Techniques & Skills Used: longtail CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing; instructions for this pattern . . .

Crying Icicles

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Jul 052022

Like melting icicles, columns of slipped stitches drip down from the top of this two-color triangular shawl. Some are frozen midway, while others merge with the edging, pooling into the delicate snowflake border. Techniques & Skills Used: garter tab CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, slipped stitch colorwork, easy lace; this pattern is both fully written and charted. Size: 68” length and 26” depth. Yarn: Anzula Luxury Fibers Squishy (80% superwash merino wool, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon; 385 yards/352m/114g); 1 skein each of MC and CC, shown in MC Periwinkle and CC Gravity. The sample as written used approximately 195 yards MC and 385 yards CC of fingering weight yarn. Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) 32″ circular needle or size to match gauge; Markers (4); Yarn needle. Gauge: 17 st and 40 rows/4” in garter stitch, after blocking. Gauge is not critical for this project, however a different gauge may result in a smaller or larger finished shawl, and different yardage requirements. See it on Ravelry or on Payhip, to read more or purchase the pattern.

Velvetine Lines

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Aug 312021

Velvetine Lines uses garter striped fabric to interpret the wales of corduroy, and is perfect for two saturated jewel colors in lighter and darker tones that mimic the shading created by the nap of velveteen. Pick shades of your favorite color, or take your shawl in another direction and pair two contrasting colors for a different, bold effect. Cast on at one end and worked sideways in two beautiful jewel tones, this deep-pointed triangle features skinny garter stripes that expand into striated lines, for a strong but simple visual impact. Easy no-wrap short rows in sets of three alternate between colors throughout the edging, while two-row stripes anchor the body and connect to the edge of this attainable and fun knit. Techniques & Skills Used: knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, no-wrap short rows; instructions for this pattern are fully written. Size: 65” length and 36” depth, customizable. Yarn: Miss Babs Hand Dyed Yarn Yummy 2-Ply (100% superwash merino wool; 400 yards/365 m/110g), sample shown in Tulipa (color A dark) and Fig (color B light); 1 skein each color, . . .

UltiFlex

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Jan 262021

Worked from end-to-end using any amount of yarn, UltiFlex offers ultimate flexibility in yarn choice and yardage, endless knit-ability in friendly garter stitch, and a fun dropstitch lace pattern. Cast on at one end and worked sideways, this shallow triangle makes the most of any amount of yarn. Suitable for any base and one to an infinite number of skeins, the garter stitch main body begins with a few stitches and increases every RS row until half the total amount of yardage has been used, then decreases back to a few stitches again. At the same time, the wide decorative edge is worked in a simple garter-based, 8-row repeat with multi-yarnovers that are dropped on the next row to create the wavy open pattern. Super fun and super simple, UltiFlex suits every knitter and is infinitely customizable. Techniques & Skills Used: longtail CO, knit, increasing/decreasing; this pattern is fully written. Size: 52” length and 22” depth, customizable. Yarn: Miss Babs Hand Dyed Yarn Keira (100% superwash merino wool; 560 yards/512m/225g), shown in Corset; 1 skein, or 560 yards . . .

Marliose

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Oct 222020

Cast on in the round from the center square, Marliose then expands in biased chevron wings to each side, for a super-snuggly and wearable color-blocked wrap. Relaxing garter stitch meets the fun of mixing and marling your colors with laceweight yarn held double. Let your stash and your color inspiration guide your artistry, as you create a uniquely personal statement for your handknit wardrobe. Techniques & Skills Used: disappearing loop CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing. This pattern includes links to my CO tutorial. Size: 120” length and 20” depth, customizable. Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Lace (100% merino wool; 470 yards/430m/50g); 13 skeins in 7 colors, or approximately 5000 yards of laceweight yarn in as many colors as you like; yarn is held double throughout. Sample shown in Paris Night (A), Pearl (B), Natural (C), Apricot (D), Rhodesian (E), Zinc (F), and Tortuga (G), and used approximately 1, 1.5, 2, 1.25, 1.25, 1.5 and 2 skeins respectively. It’s not an exact science; gather an array of harmonious colors, and blend them as you are inspired, using as much or as little as . . .

Chevragonal

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Feb 202020

A line of textured chevrons sweeps diagonally across this asymmetric shawl, while contrasting color stripes expand and contract, accentuating the shifting ripples. Enjoy the relaxing garter stitch and the fun of stripes which form the basis of this wrap, while staying engaged by creating the expanding columns of chevrons that shift along the edge. Techniques & Skills Used: knit, increasing/decreasing. Instructions for this pattern are fully written, with a handy stitch and row count table to keep track of the work. Size: 100” length at top and 30” depth at deepest point. Yarn: The Periwinkle Sheep PURPOSE (90% superwash merino wool, 10% nylon; 410 yards/375m/100g), 1 skein each Colors A, B and C; shown in Thunderstorm, Clearing and She Dances; OR approximately 1200 yards of fingering weight yarn. The sample used almost all of the yarn; see Designer’s Notes for suggestions on adjusting for different yardage. Other Materials: US 6/4mm 32” circular needle, or size to match gauge; Stitch markers (2 color A and 2 color B); Yarn needle. Gauge: 19 st and 38 rows/4” . . .

Grandiose Wrap

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Aug 152019

Whether glamping around a forest retreat, exploring on a quaint weekend away, or unplugging for your stay-cation, the Grandiose Wrap provides big snuggly comfort. A triangle shawl beginning grows on each unique bias side to make an enfolding rectangular wrap, highlighting a main color paired with a mini-skein set in a mix of stripe and eyelet-based stitch patterns. Techniques & Skills Used: garter tab CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, easy lace. Instructions for this pattern are fully written, with charts also provided for the eyelet-based lace. Size: 104” length at top, 80” length at bottom, and 18” depth. Yarn: Miss Babs Yowza (100% superwash merino wool; 560 yards/512m/225g), shown in Fleur de Sel (A); 1 skein, and Miss Babs Yowza Mini (100% superwash merino wool; 200 yards/182m/80g), shown in Stowaway (B), Tiger Eye (C), and Zinfandel (D), 3 skeins. The sample used almost all of the yarn. Other Materials: US 7 (4.5mm) 32” circular needle, or size to match gauge; Markers (4); Stitch holder (optional); Yarn needle. Gauge: 18 st and 34 rows/4” in garter stitch after blocking. Gauge is not critical . . .

Issykol

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Mar 282019

Luxurious cashmere yarn and mosaic slipped stitch chevron patterns make a stunning bias shawl, featuring two rich colors alternating in a striking zigzag across a lighter contrasting background. June Cashmere’s ethically sourced and organically dyed yarn, which behaves like a light fingering weight, originates with fiber from small family farms in the mountain communities of Kyrgyzstan along the ancient Silk Road. As part of their mission to be an engine for social and economic change in the region, the company partners with local shepherds to bring fine quality fiber to the international market for fair compensation. Issykol is named for Issyk-Kul Lake, the seventh deepest and tenth largest lake in the world, located in the globally significant and biodiverse Issy-Kul Biosphere Reserve. Techniques & Skills Used: longtail CO, cable CO, knit, increasing/decreasing, slipstitch colorwork. Instructions for this pattern are fully written, with charts also provided for the slipstitch colorwork. Size: 72” length and 17” depth. Highly customizable, with an adjustable 12-row repeat to alter the zigs and zags and infinite garter stitch bordering each end, . . .

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