The basic concept of this pattern is to create the open-work sections of the scarf/shawl by dropping a stitch, while knitting in stockinet stitch, on the bias. The pattern is available for free on the internet. http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall04/PATTclapotis.html In machine knitting, this effect can be achieved by leaving needles out of work, within the knitting area, and thus create the open-work sections.
(VERSION 1)
If you use a yarn that has sheen, and is slippery, the stitches on either side of needles out of work will expand, and eventually the open sections will disappear.
A second option is to knit on the bias, on every needle, and knit a “long stitch" row to create the open-work section. (VERSION 2)
Abbreviations:
St(s) $=$ stitches COR $=$ carriage on right $\mathsf{W Y}\!=$ waste yarn. $\mathsf{L}\!=\!\mathsf{I}$ eft of centre Hold $=$ russel levers in "l" position. Rw(s) $=$ rows COL $\cdot\!=$ carriage on left $\mathsf{R C}=$ row count $\mathsf{R}=$ right of centre Knit on an LK140 with extension carriage. Scarves/shawls knit in sock yarn, Shelridge Farm Soft Touch Ultra or Koigu, were knit at T3 and T4.
MACHINE KNIT CLAPOTIS
VERSlON 1, needles out of work.
Knit in Malabrigo Lace $100\%$ Baby Merino wool, 50grams, 470 yards. One skein. Finished size: 9" x 60" Tension 1 Basic needle set-up is 5 needles in work, 3 needles out of work throughout. 1. COR. Crochet cast-on 3 stitches over needles (L32, 31, 30). Knit one row. 2. E-wrap one stitches on carriage side and knit 1 row. Repeat once. You now have five stitches in work. 3. E-wrap one stitch on carriage side, leaving 3 needles out of work between the five needles in work and the new stitch that you are e-wrapping. Continue increasing on the carriage side every row, making sure you establish the pattern of 5 needles in work, and 3 needles out of work, until you have the desired width. I used 70 needles (including the ones out of work). 4. Body of Scarf knit on the bias: On every other row, increase one stitch on the right side of needles in work, and decrease one stitch on left side of needles in work, always keeping the pattern of 5 needles in work, 3 needles out of work. 5. Decrease: On every other row, decrease one stitch on the each side of needles in work, until there are only 3 stitches left. Crochet cast-off
MACHINE KNIT CLAPOTIS
VERSION 2 long stitch.
Knit in Malabrigo Lace $100\%$ Baby Merino wool, 50grams, 470 yards. One skein. Finished size: 9" x 50" Tension 1 Basic pattern is 9 rows knit at MT, and one long row. (10 rows) 1. COR. Crochet cast-on 3 stitches over needles (L32, 31, 30). Knit one row. 2. E-wrap two stitches on carriage side and knit 1 row. Repeat 8 times. 3. Long Row: pull needles in working position forward “D" position. Lay yarn into hooks, and manually knit needle butts back to "A" position. Pull down on knitting to bring needles to working position. An intarsia carriage can be use to bring the needles forward to "C" position for manually knitting. 4. Repeat Step 2 for nine rows, and Step 3 for one row, to create pattern over 10 rows, until scarf is the desired width. (I knit to 70 stitches wide) 5. Body of Scarf knit on the bias: Knit rows 1, 3, 5, and 7 of pattern and decrease one stitch on left side of needles in work (COL). Knit rows 2, 4, 6 and 8 and increase one stitch on right side of needles in work. For the decrease, simply transfer the end stitch to the next needle in work. For the increase, e-wrap one new stitch. After knitting row 9, decrease one stitch on left side of needles in work, and then knit row 10 as the Long Row. Continue to desired length. It may be necessary to remove the scarf on waste yarn or garter bar, and move it back to the left side of the needle bed. 6. Decrease: Continue working in 10 row pattern, and decrease one stitch on each side, every row, until 3 stitches remain. Crochet cast-off.
