Otranto Stole
Design by Anna Novitzky, Zombie Kitten Knits (zombiekittenknits.blogspot.com)
The curves and angles of the lace patterns in this stole evoke opulent architectural forms, and the combination of black yarn and red beads is darkly romantic. So I have named it after the ultimate gothic ruin: the Castle of Otranto, the namesake of the very first gothic novel, published by Horace Walpole in 1764. But you need not confine yourself to my literary tastes: make it in grey, with nupps instead of beads, for the castle of The Mysteries of Udolpho or the Arthurian Camelot; make it in green for the woodland palaces of Lothlorien or Rivendell in The Lord of The Rings; or make it in pink with blue beads to gratify your inner Disney princess. Whatever your fairy-tale proclivities, this is the stole to make you feel like royalty.
Notes: The stole is knitted in two identical halves, which are then grafted together at the centre for symmetry. For grafting instructions, see http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer04/FEATtheresasum04.html. For instructions on how to block lace, see http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2005/08/23/walkaround theblock.html For ease of use, wrong side rows are highlighted in grey on the charts. Knitter's Symbols fonts used courtesy Knitter's Magazine—Copyright @ 1998 XRX, Inc. (http://www.knittinguniverse.com/downloads/kfont/index.html) Otranto Stole @ Anna Novitzky 2010 zombiekittenknits.blogspot.com Finishedmeasurements: Dependent on gauge. Shown here: cobweb (black, beaded version) —- 34cm x 178cm (13" x 70"); sock (grey, nupp version) — 37.5cm x 200cm (15" x 79") Yarn: Lace weight or cobweb weight. Shownhere: Cobweb (black, beaded version): Lane Borgosesia Baruffa Cashwool (100% merino; 1375m [1460yd]/100g; Black): 1 skein. Lace (grey, nupp version): Knit Picks Gloss Lace (70% merino wool, 30% silk; 402m [440yd]/50g; Sterling): 2 skein Gauge: Not critical. Shown here, in lilac lace pattern (side panels of chart C) 25 stitches x 27 rows: cobweb (black, beaded version) — 9cm x 10cm (3.5" x 4"); sock (grey, bobbled version) — 11cm x 13cm (4" x 5"). Toolsandnotions: 3.5mm knitting needles Darning or tapestry needle Stitchholders 154 beads of appropriate size to be strung onto the yarn (optional) Crochet hook small enough for the hook to fit into the holes in the beads (optional) Abbreviations: k = knit p = purl k2tog = right-leaning decrease: knit 2 together ssk = left-leaning decrease: slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over yo=yarn over p7tog = purl 7 together CO = cast on st = stitch(es) RS = right side WS=wrong side Special stitches: 7-stitch nupp: working very loosely, ([k1, p1] 3 times, k1) allinto the same stitch. On the next row, purl all 7 stitches together, leaving 1 stitch and a bobble, or nupp. If you find it hard to purl all 7 together, you can just slip the first 6 stitches over the last stitch and purl that one. Place bead: Work stitch in pattern, push bead onto crochet hook, use hook to take worked stitch from the knitting needle and push bead down onto the loop, return beaded stitch to needle.
Chart legend:
k on RS, p on WS p on RS, k on WS Left-leaning decrease (ssk) Right-leaning decrease (k2tog) Centred decrease (s2 as if to k2tog. k1, psso) yo p7tog in bobble version; p in beaded version 7-stitch nupp in bobble version; place bead in beaded version Pattem repeat
Instructions: Half the stole (make 2): Holding cobweb weight yarn doubled or lace weight single, CO 83 st. Continue with a single strand for both weights. Slipping the first stitch of every row, knit 4 rows. For the rest of the stole, the first and last 5 stitches of every row will be knitted, slipping the first stitch of every row. This border is not marked on the charts. Work rows 1-34 of Chart A, working section within red lines 5 times. For the beaded version, place beads on the centred decreases on rows 1-23 and the right- and leftleaning decreases at each end of rows 15-23. Chart A Chart B
| 33 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 31 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 29 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 27 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 15 11 の 7 5 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 0 |
Work rows 1-22 of Chart B for the transition, working section within red lines 5 times.
Otranto Stole @ Anna Novitzky 2010 zombiekittenknits.blogspot.com
Chart C
| 0l | l | 37 | ||||
| . | 区 区 | to | [ | 区 区 | 区 | 35 93 |
| 0/1 | l | NO | 31 29 | |||
| 区 | 区 | 27 25 | ||||
| 区 | L | L | TO | 23 21 | ||
| 恒 | OL 区 | l | 19 | |||
| I | T | E | 区 | 18 | ||
| I | 区 | R L 二 | 17 | |||
| 15 | ||||||
| 区 | ||||||
| 17101 | 13 | |||||
| MOl | 110 | |||||
| l0l/ | l | Moll 11 | ||||
| 区 | 9 | |||||
| 7 | ||||||
| 10 | ||||||
| 5 | ||||||
| +中 | 区 | |||||
| Mol | ||||||
| M | 1 | |||||
Chart D
| 29 | ||||||
| 17 15 | ||||||
| 13 | ||||||
| 11 | ||||||
| l | 0 | 9 | ||||
| 7 | ||||||
| 0 | 5 | |||||
| CT | C1 | 0 | ||||
Transfer all stitches to a holder or waste yarn. Finishing: Graft the two halves of the stole together using Kitchener stitch. Weave in all ends, leaving 5cm tails to be trimmed after blocking. Handwash the stole gently in shampoo mild soap and water, then it block firmly to open out the lace. Trim all loose ends.
