Frankie's Knitted Stuff
55 Shells
My shells were inspired by a Victorian knitting pattern, 'Shell Pattern For A Quilt', published in the second series of ‘Weldon's Practical Knitter' in 1886. I have revised, updated and changed things here and there to make a pattern that is easily memorised. As you might have guessed, I knitted 55 shells for my shawl which is a wide triangle measuring about 165cm across and 51 cm at its deepest point (65" × 20"). Each shell is about 14cm wide and 8cm from top to bottom. I knitted my shawl in Lang Tosca Light (400m / 100g, shade 1105) with 3.25mm / US size 3 needles and used just over 200g of yarn. Any yarn could be used as it doesn't really matter how big the shells knit up. Just sew them together until you have the right size shawl for you.
Knitting a Shell
Using the cable method, cast on 40 sts. Knit 3 rows. After the first row you might like to slip the first stitch of every row knitwise as I did. Next row: K4, SSK, \*yf, K2tog, repeat from \* to last 4 sts, K4. Next row: K4, P2tog, P to last 4 sts, K4. Next row: K4, SSK, K to end. Work the last two rows once more (35 sts). The main part of the shell is worked in the following 5 row pattern: Rows 1, 3 & 5: K4, SSK, K to end. Rows 2 & 4:K4, P2tog, P to last 4 sts, K4. Work this pattern five times, until you have 10 sts left. You will be decreasing five stitches with every pattern repeat, making it easy to know where you are. When you get to a number of stitches divisible by five you're at the end of the repeat. When you have 10 stitches on your needle, it's time to decrease for the bottom point. Row 1: K4, K2tog, K4. Row 2: K4, K2tog, K3. Row 3: K3, K2tog, K3. Row 4: K3, K2tog, K2. Row 5: K2, K2tog, K2. Row 6: K2, K2tog, K1. Row 7: K1, K2tog, K1. Cast off with a double decrease: sl 1 knitwise, K2tog, psso and fasten off.
Joining the Shells
This is done in rows, beginning at the bottom. Take one shell and sew two others across the top of it.
The two sides of the shells are slightly different and I decided to change the side that was on top with each row to make the shawl completely reversible. The third row is added in the same way.
and so on .. My shawl has ten rows of shells, 55 in all. The curved top folds over nicely when worn.
One more picture to show the row of holes at the top of each shell (these would show up better at a looser tension). If all else fails, drape your shawl over a window!
Abbreviations
st / sts stitch / stitches Kknit Ppurl SSK slip, slip, knit (see below) yf yarn forward, as if to purl K2tog knit two stitches together P2tog purl two stitches together sl1 slip one stitch kwise knitwise psso pass slipped stitch over slip, slip, knit: Slip 2 stitches knitwise (or knitwise followed by purlwise) one at a time, insert tip of left needle into stitches from above, put yarn round right needle and knit both stitches together. Frankie Brown, 2012. My patterns are for personal use only and should not be used to knit items for sale.
