Diamonds are Forever
This pattern is loosely based on some Victorian stitchwork. The Diamond Leaf pattern is an easy repeat once set and the Narrow Point edging looks a lot harder to do than it actually is. The yarn I used is to make mine was 4 ply Cotswold Rare Breed 100% British yarn which was once a popular breed but now sadly there are only a few producers left. The yarn has quite a "halo" to it and in olden times was referred to as poor man's mohair as it is very hardwearing yet light and warm, however any of my 4 ply sock yarns would be suitable to make this shawl. The colourway is called Flimston reflecting the colour of the sea and the local stone and slate as it appears here in Pembrokeshire during the stormier winter months.
MATERIALS
200grams of any Woolhunter 4 ply/sockweight yarn - 400 metres approx per 100 grams. WOOLHUNTER'S TIP: It would be possible also to make this shawl in any other weight of yarn but you would need to adjust your needle size up /or down and the number of pattern repeats accordingly.
NOTIONSS:
Circular Needle size 4.5 mm/Us Size 7 needles, 1 pair 4.5 mm/Us 7 straight needles, 2 large stitch holders, 1 tapestry needle.
ABBREVIATIONS:
K2tog = Knit 2 together M1 = Make 1: Insert left needle from front to back under strand between last stitch knitted and first stitch on left needle and place on left hand needle. Knit into the back of this stitch. sl 1 = slip 1 stitch knitways ssk = slip the next 2 stitches knitwise onto the right hand needle, insert left hand needle back into the stitches knit the two together. (2 stitches become one and this makes a left slanting decrease) SK2P = Slip next stitch, knit two together then pass slipped stitch over yo = yarn over needle yo2 = yarn over needle twice ie making a double increase
TENSION:
Unimportant but around 5 stitches per inch on 4.5 mm needles..
CENTRE TRIANGLE:
With Metric 4.5 mm/US Size 7 needles, cast on/bind on 3 stitches loosely. Set up for pattern as follows:- Rows 2 - 12 incl: Sl1, M1, knit to end. Row 13: Sl1, M1, k6, yo, knit to end. Row 14: Sl1, M1, knit to end. Row 15: Sl1, k7,yo, k1, yo, k8 Row 16: Sl1, k7, p3, k8 Row 17: Sl1, k7, yo, k3, yo, k8 Tow 18: Sl1, k7, p5, k8 Row 19: Sl1, k7, yo, k5, yo, k8 Row 20: Sl1, K7, p7, k8 Row: 21: Sl1, k7, yo, k7,yo, k8 Row 22: Sl1, k7, p9, k8 Row 23: Sl1, k7, yo, k9, yo, k8 Row 24: Sl1, k7, p11, k8 Woolhunter's Variation on Diagonal Leaf Pattern Repeat (a 10 row 12 stitch repeat) Every 1oth row repeat begins and ends the same, the only difference is the number of 12 stitch repeats worked. For every 10 rows 12 stitches are increased adding one additional "leaf" repeat to the pattern. Row 1: Sl1, M1, k6, yo, k1, yo, \*k3, ssk, k1, k2tog, k3, yo, k1, yo, \* repeat from \* to \* to last 7 sts, k7. Row 2: Sl1, M1, k6, purl to last 8 sts, k8. Row 3: S1, k7, yo, k3, yo, \*k2, ssk, k1, k2tog, k2, yo, k3, yo\* repeat from \* to \* to last 8 sts, k8. Row 4: Sl1, k7, purl to last 8 sts, k8 Row 5: Sl1, k7, yo, k5, yo, \*k1, ssk, k1, k2tog, k1, yo, k5, yo\* repeat from \* to \* to last 8 sts, k8. Row 6: Sl1, k7, purl to last 8 sts, k8 Row 7: Sl1, k7, yo, k7, yo, \* ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k7, yo\* repeat from \* to \* to last 8 sts, k8. Row 8: Sl1, k7, purl to last 8 sts, k8 Row 9: Sl1, k7, yo, k9, yo, \*SK2P, yo, k9, yo\* repeat from \* to \* to last 8 sts, k8. Row 10: Sl1, k7, purl to last 8 sts, k8 These 10 rows form the pattern so every 1oth row repeat begins and ends the same, the only difference is the number of 12 stitch repeats worked. For every 10 rows 12 stitches are increased adding one additional "leaf" repeat to the pattern. Repeat these 10 rows until 15 complete leaves have been formed (or desired length). Knit 14 rows but do not cast off. Divide the stitches evenly onto two stitch holders.
Knitted on Border: (Starting at centre back of shawl)
Using 4.5 mm/Us 7 needles and Lace Cast/Bind method (or any method of cast on using a spare piece of differently coloured yarn - if you are unsure how to do this, have a look on www.youtube.com which will give you helpful videos/tutorials), cast on/bind on 8 stitches and knit one row. Commence pattern as follows:-
Narrow Point Border
Row 2 - k3, p1, k2, yo, k2tog, - one stitch remains. Insert your right needle through the back loop of this stitch AT THE SAME TIME slip you right needle through the first stitch on the left hand stitches that have been "held" and knit the two together. You will continue to work the last stitch on every even numbered row in this manner. The abbreviation for this for the rest of the pattern will be k2tog tbl (through back loops). Row 3 - sl1, k2, yo, k2tog, k1, yo2, k2tog, k1 Row 4 - k3, p1, k3, yo, k2tog, k2tog tbl Row 5 - sl1, k2, yo, k2tog, k2, yo2, k2tog, k1 Row 6 - k3, p1, k4, yo, k2tog, k2tog tbl Row 7 - sl1, k2, yo, k2 tog, k6 Row 8 - Cast off/bind off 3 sts, k4, yo, k2tog, k2tog tbl PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE PARAGRAPH BEFORE CONTINUING. These 8 rows form the narrow point border. Continue to work these 8 rows along the left top of the shawl, down the left hand side using the loops formed by having previously slipped your first stitches at the beginning of your rows on the main body of the shawl as your joining stitch, then up the right hand side of the shawl and then back along the top to the centre. DO NOT CAST OFF. When working into the corner work several joins into the same two stitches either side of the corners in order to ease your border neatly round them. To finish, remove the spare yarn at the beginning of your border at the same time carefully incorporate the stitches onto a second needle. Finally graft these two sets of stitches together using the Kitchener stitch method. Again if you are unsure how to do Kitchener Stitch there are excellent videos/tutorials on www.youtube.com. Sew in all spare ends. Then wash your shawl gently and then block it whilst it is still damp. For the 4 ply/sockweight yarn version your finished measurements should be approx 66 inches across the top and a depth of approx 36 inches from centre back to centre point of the shawl. If you have enjoyed this project there are other patterns available on my website. Remember if you purchase the yarn from me, I am happy to let you have whichever pattern you require for free via email in pdf format. I also love to see photos of your finished projects so feel free to contact me at the address below or via my group on www.ravelry.com/groups/woolhunter.
For private non-commercial use only No material in this pattern or the pattern itself may be reproduced mechanically, electronically or by any other means including photocopying without prior written permission. For queries/errata/send photos of your finished garment - please contact jan@woolhunter.com ① Jan Henley 2010 All rights reserved
