This rectangular lace wrap features a traditional Shetland pattern known as Print ‘o the Wave. It is knit flat and then a narrow eyelet edging – worked in the round – is added. A 2-ply, undyed white Shetland wool yarn is used for this accessory.
Note that two 24”/60cm or 32”/80cm circular needles are needed for the edging, which is worked in the round.
I used 4 balls of Shetland Supreme Lace Weight yarn.
Made it to Riga, Latvia, this afternoon and I went in search of information on how to handle a third and maybe even a fourth color in a given row of stranded knitting. I had given up on the more complex patterns in Knit Like a Latvian due to frustration with managing more than two colors per row.
I went to two shops looking for advice and this is what I was told:
1. At Sena Klets (upscale national handicraft center): a young shop clerk who spoke English well acted as a translator for an older woman employee who spoke no English. She said she doesn’t worry about securing the strand of a third or fourth color even if they are carried for 10 stitches or so. What she does is tack the strands down using a tapestry needle and yarn when the project is complete. So, that’s one possible solution – from an experienced Latvian mitten knitter.
2. At Hobbywool Riga (this was my source online for the book “Knit Like a Latvian” and my first Latvian mitten yarn) – I spoke to the manager who is quite proficient in English and was very helpful. She took out a project and showed me how she handled a third color. Basically as she picks up the color to be used next she ensures that the strand is moved over the top of the other strands, and so on with each color change. Although this creates a twisted mess, on the following round she moves the strand to be used under the other strands and so on with each color change – basically untwisting the strands that became twisted on the previous round.
Also, she said that if a row called for the very infrequent use of a third color she used the duplicate stitch method after the project was complete and didn’t bother carrying the third color when knitting.
Don’t know if that’s of use to anyone – but clearly there are different methods for different knitters and doesn’t seem to be a “right” way of doing this.
Photos show Sena Klets, Hobbywool, and the meager purchase of 5 skeins for my next mitten/glove projects.
This rectangular knit shawl is worked from the bottom edge up and features horizontal panels of Shetland lace patterns. It measures 59.5 x 10.5 inches.
Not long ago I visited the Shetland Islands, and on Unst, the northernmost island, I had the opportunity to learn a few traditional lace stitch patterns. Two traditional Unst patterns – Norik Drummie Bees (bumblebees) and Flukra (gently falling snowflakes) – are featured in this design. These are examples of true knitted lace in that the patterns are worked on both sides of the fabric.
Five colors are used, worked from the darkest color at the lower edge to the lightest color at the top, with an overlap of color on each panel. The wrap is framed with eyelet edges on the sides and double eyelets across the top and bottom edges.
I’m not sure if the Hyssop and Robin Egg colorways appealed to me because I miss Spring (living in Thailand) – or because the cold and snow plaguing so much of North America and Europe beg for better weather. Whatever the reason, I love the subtleties of these Hayton 4-Ply colorways by Eden Cottage Yarns and decided to use them in a large triangular wrap meant for Spring and Summer wear.
The center spine features a flat bottom edge as opposed to the point in a traditional triangle and the diamond chain lace is complemented by lines of eyelets radiating out to the edges of the shawl. All in all it’s a relatively simple pattern to follow and with the color changes and stitch pattern changes it will keep your interest as well.
One full skein of both colorways is required for the pattern. The finished size is 74×25 inches / 188×63.5cm.
The pattern is for sale in my Ravelry store: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/diamond-chain-lace-and-eyelets
This two-color Fair Isle pattern is a relatively easy knit and a good way to practice color stranding.
The neckwarmer/cowl is meant to be a snug fit – and measures 19.5 x 9.5 inches (49.5 x 24.1 cm).
The pattern is based on a traditional Russian Kargopol embroidery design – worked in red thread on a white background. I chose to knit this in a blueish green color as the primary color and a golden yellow as the secondary color.
I had the opportunity to visit the Shetland Islands this past summer and met Mary Macgregor, a local craftswoman, whose book “Fair Isle Knitting Patterns” provided the inspiration for this design.
Not long after meeting Mary I went to Jamieson’s of Shetland to do some yarn shopping. When I saw their range in Ultra (a Shetland wool/lambswool blend) I decided to buy a selection of greys and blues (with a red thrown in the mix).
This 6.5×72 inches (16.5x183cm) scarf is knit in the round, meaning that it is reversible and doubly thick as well. The ends are closed using a 3-needle bind-off technique.
I used five different colors for this scarf (a total of eleven 25-gram balls): two greys, two blues, and a red.
The pattern is available on Ravelry at:
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fair-isle-scarf-in-blues-and-greys
We’re on a week-long visit to the US, taking in the scenery from coastal Virginia and South Carolina to the fall colors of the mountains around Asheville NC.
On the way we stopped to visit Ladianne Henderson and Sheri Osborne at their yarn shop in Huntersville, NC – Cheers To Ewe. It’s a wonderful place that I’ve watched developed through posts and photos online. Check out their website at http://www.CheersToEwe.com
and you can see my chat with some of the shop’s faithful customers on YouTube:
I’m particularly interested in geometric shapes that represent nature. This lace knit wrap features a center panel of a repeating arbor lace stitch pattern surrounded by a Turkish faggoting stitch, and edged on both sides with a stylized leafy vine stitch pattern.
The inspiration for the design came as I was walking through a formal garden in Europe last year.
The wrap was hand knit by me in a luxurious blend of linen and wool and is a perfect weight for year-round wear. The color is called Citrine.
It is rectangular in shape and measures 17×62” (43.2×157.5cm).
If you’d like to purchase this item, it’s available in my Etsy shop.
Thanks for looking,
MikeH
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