Wraps • The Knitting Vortex • Page 3

Making Advances

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Feb 012017

Alternating textures in two colors decorate a bold triangle shawl, then advance unexpectedly to one side, for an asymmetric finish. Color choice is the focus, the shape is long and easy to wear, and the knitting is simple and relaxing. Construction: Making Advances is worked topdown from a garter tab CO for the main triangle, then stitches are bound off on one side and the remaining side is worked in a long asymmetric extension. Techniques & Skills Used: garter tab CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing. Size: 75” length and 22” depth. Yarn: Hedgehog Fibres Skinny Singles (100% merino wool; 400yards/366m/100g), shown in Urchin (A) and Vengeance (B); 1 skein each of two colors. The sample used approximately 355 yards A and 395 yards B. Using a drapey single or loosely plied yarn will help minimize rolling at the long bottom left edge. Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) 32” circular needle, or size to match gauge; Yarn needle. Gauge: 19 st and 38 rows/4” in stockinette stitch, after blocking. Gauge is not critical for this project, however a different gauge may result in . . .

Courser Shawl

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Nov 102016

Five textured stitch patterns combine in a completely reversible classic triangle shawl worked in soft and cozy worsted weight yarn, ideal for cooler temperatures. Both variegated and semi-solid yarns are perfect choices for showing off the textures; completely reversible, the right side displays a rib-based fabric broken by bands of seed texture, while the reverse side shows a more nubby and rustic overall fabric, with a high-relief, welted bottom edging. Construction: Worked from the top down beginning with a garter tab, the Courser shawl is a classic triangle worked in five different highly textured and reversible stitch patterns. Repeating bands of broken rib alternate with welted slipstitch and reverse broken rib, adding a strong vertical element to the horizontal textures. Elongated slipstitch creates weight and dimension at the bottom edging, while the garter stitch spine and selvedges provide a linear framing structure. Wear it with either side showing; the reversible stitch patterns look great on both. Customize your shawl by mixing and matching any of the stitch patterns, to use any amount of yarn. Techniques & . . .

Refracted

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Oct 112016

$Refracted$

Stitches refract at a central point, interrupting the line of a stripe and sometimes becoming another stitch pattern entirely. Worked in a combination of solid, stripe and slipped stitches, this garter shawl begins at one tip and grows asymmetrically on the bias in two halves simultaneously, with patterns which diverge at the center. Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, slipped stitches. Instructions are fully written, with charts also provided for the slipstitch and stripe sections. Size: 64” length and 20” depth, customizable. Yarn: Dark Harbour Yarn Starboard (70% superwash merino wool, 30% silk; 438 yards/400m/100g); 1 skein each MC and CC, shown in Great White and Arthur Kill, respectively. The sample as written used approximately 315 yards MC and 225 yards CC of fingering weight yarn. Other Materials: US 5 (3.75mm) 32” circular needle, or size to match gauge; Stitch marker (1); Yarn needle. Gauge: 24 st and 32 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 . . .

Mazerunner

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Oct 042016

Sinuous crossed paths run a maze around mesh diamonds on this triangle shawl worked from the bottom up. The crimpy fiber of the cormo creates a very lofty and bouncy fabric, giving the lace a refreshingly rustic and woolly dimension. Techniques & Skills Used: longtail CO, knit/purl, cables, easy lace; this pattern is both fully written and charted. Size: 60” length and 26” depth; customizable. Yarn: Sincere Sheep Cormo Fingering (100% Cormo wool; 500 yards/ 457m/113g); 1 skein, or 500 yards of wool/wool blend fingering weight yarn. The sample as written used the entire skein; you may want to have additional yardage on hand, as the shawl may easily be enlarged. Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) 32” circular needle, or size to match gauge; Cable needle; Yarn needle. Gauge: 20 st and 32 rows/4” in stockinette stitch, 20 st and 30 rows/4” in lace pattern 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 . . .

Line Art

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Sep 202016

I created this short row shawl pattern as an indie complement to my book, Knitting Short Row: Techniques for Great Shapes and Angles. Thank you for supporting Indie! Contrasting garter lines accent the clean stockinette canvas of this sideways swoop shawl. Choose bold monotones or a rainbow of colored leftovers to create your art; the elongated bias shape suits men or women, and can be made to any size. Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, German short rows with link to my tutorial. Size: 60” length and 16” depth; this shawl may be customized to use any amount of yarn. Yarn: Spirited Fibers Fingering (80% superwash merino wool, 20% nylon; 400 yards/366m/100g), shown in Silver; 1 skein, plus about 12 yards each of 3 or more contrasting color fingering weight yarns. Any amount of MC may be used, as well as an infinite number of contrast color scraps. Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) 32” circular needle, or size to match gauge; Stitch marker (1); Yarn needle. Gauge: 19 st and 30 rows/4” in stockinette stitch, after blocking. Gauge is . . .

Potions Mistress

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Sep 072016

Become the mistress of your own potion, and mix up a concoction to satisfy and delight. Use three (or more!) colorful yarns as ingredients, and blend them together to produce a bias shawl that evolves through dynamic color changes. Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, knit/purl, increasing, easy lace; instructions for this pattern are both fully written and charted. Size: 80” length and 40” depth; this shawl may be customized in length and depth to accommodate varying yardage. Yarn: Julie Asselin Milis (100% superwash merino wool; 475 yards/ 438m/115g), 1 skein each colors A, B and C; shown in Clair de Lune, Sunset and Arlequin, respectively. The sample used almost all of the yardage from each skein, but any amount of yarn in any combination may be used; see Designer’s Notes. Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) 32” circular needle, or size to match gauge; Yarn needle. Gauge: 18 st and 36 rows/4” in garter stitch and lace pattern, after blocking. Gauge is not critical for this project, however a different gauge may result in a smaller or larger finished shawl, . . .

Vamping

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Jun 162016

In jazz music, vamping is playing the same short phrase over and over; in this shawl you create a glamorous vampy piece by working a simple syncopated eyelet repeat on a wrap with an intriguing shape. Knit asymmetrically from side to side, the long gradient color change builds slowly as it expands with the shawl. Techniques & Skills Used: longtail CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, easy lace; instructions for this pattern are fully written. Size: 70” length and 20” depth. Yarn: KnitCircus Yarns Lavish (70% superwash merino wool, 20% cashmere, 10% nylon; 600 yards/548m/170g); 1 skein, shown in Vampire Boyfriend. The sample as written used approximately 585 yards, but instructions are included to customize your shawl for different amounts of yardage. Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) 32” circular needle, or size to match gauge; Removable marker (1); Yarn needle. Gauge: 20 st and 30 rows/4” in stockinette 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 . . .

Diamond Lanes

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Apr 192016

Geometric lace forms textured diagonal diamond lanes leading upward and outward on this simple but stunning triangular shawl. Techniques & Skills Used: knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, easy lace; this pattern is both fully written and charted. Size: 52” length and 21” depth, customizable. Yarn: Seven Sisters Arts Apex (60% superwash merino wool, 20% yak, 20% silk; 400 yards/366m/100g), shown in bleu grey; 1 skein, or 400 yards of wool blend fingering weight yarn with good drape. The sample as written used the entire skein; you may want to have additional yardage on hand as insurance, as the shawl may easily be enlarged using any amount of yarn. Other Materials: US 5 (3.75mm) 32” circular needle or size to match gauge; Markers (3); Yarn needle. Gauge: 20 st and 40 rows/4” in garter stitch, 18 st and 34 rows/4” in diamond lace pattern, 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.

Snowsweep

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Dec 012015

Sweeping rows of eyelets, placed gradually further apart, curve along this reversible shawl. Worked from a few stitches at one tip, the garter stitch grows asymmetrically with picots at one edge, to a matching picot finish. A simple knit with dramatic results, Snowsweep may be customized to use any amount of yardage, and to adjust the frequency of eyelet accent rows. Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, knit, increasing/decreasing, picots. Size: 74” length and 24” depth, customizable. Yarn: Woolfolk Sno (100% Ovis 21 ultimate merino wool; 223 yards/204m/50g), shown in Color No. 1+2 (pale grey and off white); 4 skeins. The sample as written used approximately 780 yards, but any amount of fingering weight yarn may be used; see Designer’s Notes. Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) 32” circular needle, or size to match gauge; Yarn needle. Gauge: 18 st and 36 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 . . .

Not Quite Plaid

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Oct 082015

Colorblocks, stripes and vertical dropped stitches – it’s Not Quite Plaid, but looks vaguely tartan. An asymmetric bias shape and an atypical approach to creating a stitch pattern result in a fabric on which to combine colors for a nontraditional and modern shawl that is infinitely customizable. Choose colors and yarns that speak to you from your stash for your own perfect (not quite) plaid. Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing; instructions are both fully written and charted. Size: 84” length and 32” depth, customizable to any size. Yarn: Baah! La Jolla (100% merino wool; 400 yards/366m/100g); 1 skein each of color A/Night Sky, color B/Obsidian, color C/Grey Onyx and color D/La Perla. A plied sock yarn with a somewhat tight twist helps maintain the integrity of the dropped stitches. The sample used approximately 275/100/205/215 yards respectively of colors A/B/C/D but any amount of yarn in any combination may be used; see Designer’s Notes. Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) 32” circular needle or size to match gauge; marker (1); removable markers (optional); Yarn . . .

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