Frankie's Knitted Stuff
Miss Silver's Cloud
A Victorian knitted cloud was a long rectangular shawl, gathered at the ends. It could be worn wrapped around the shoulders and neck, or the middle could be pulled up over the head like an opera hood. My version is 153 cm / 60" long and 42 cm / 161/2" wide. The ends are shaped rather than gathered. I knitted my cloud with James C Brett's Aria DK (215m / 50g, shade 23) and 4mm / US size 6 needles. This is a lovely soft yarn, complete with sequins for extra sparkle and it goes a long way. I used less than three 50g balls for my cloud.
Who is Miss Silver?
Miss Silver is the detective in a series of more than 30 books written by Patricia Wentworth between 1928 and 1961. She is a respectable and very conventional lady whose skill at investigation has enabled her to retire from what she calls ‘the scholastic profession'. She is often to be seen knitting as she encourages people to talk to her, mostly socks and baby items for various friends and relatives. In Lonesome Road however, she is knitting something a little different. 'Miss Silver ... drew out her knitting, a mass of pale blue wool which, unfolded, declared itself as one of those rambling wraps or scarves in which invalids are invited to entangle themselves. Miss Silver herself called it a cloud.'
Knitting the Cloud
The first section of the cloud is knitted in a seven row pattern repeat, making it reversible. Increases are worked in three of the seven rows, two on one side and one on the other. After another pattern repeat these increases will even out.
Cast on 7 sts. Row 1: Kf&b, K to end. Row 2: Purl. Row 3: K1, \*K1, wrapping yarn twice round needle, repeat from \* to last st, K1. Row 4: Kf&b, K to end, dropping the extra wraps. Row 5: Knit. Row 6: Purl. Row 7: Kf&b, K to end. Work 24 repeats of this pattern in all, by which time you should have 79 stitches on your needle. Now work without increasing for 24 more pattern repeats. Row 1: Knit. Row 2: Purl. Row 3: K1, \*K1, wrapping yarn twice round needle, repeat from \* to last st, K1. Row 4: Knit, dropping the extra wraps. Row 5: Knit. Row 6: Purl. Row 7: Knit. You now have to decrease stitches so that the two ends match. Row 1: Knit to last 2 sts, K2tog. Row 2: Purl. Rows 3: K2, \*K1, wrapping yarn twice round needle, repeat from \* to last st, K1. Row 4: Knit, dropping the extra wraps, to last 2 sts, K2tog. Row 5: Knit. Row 6: Purl. Row 7: Knit to last 2 sts, K2tog. Note that there is an extra knit stitch at the start of Row 3 to make the decrease in the next row easier. ork 24 repeats, until you are back to 7 stitches. Cast off purlwise Now you can wrap yourself in your cloud and settle down to read a Miss Silver book.
Abbreviations
st / sts stitch / stitches Kknit kf&b knit into the front and back of the stitch K2tog knit two stitches together Frankie Brown, 2012. My patterns are for personal use only and should not be used to knit items for sale. Please do not use them for teaching purposes without my permission.
