Offhand Lace By Caitlin ffrench My favourite patterns aren't really patterns. My favourite patterns are recipes. I don't follow direction too well, and I get quite distracted sometimes. So this pattern is a pattern, but it is also a recipe. You can follow it just as written, and you will end up (hopefully) with a shawl just like the one in the pattern photos... OR you can take the idea of the pattern and create your own changes. What sort of changes? First look at the variables of the pattern. Yarn weight, needle size, order of the patterns, increase placement.... I could go on, but I won't. If you want a shawl just like the one in the photo, then follow this pattern as written. If you want a shawl out of lace weight... then go for it! Be free, and make something that YOU will love making. Because really, you are doing this for your own enjoyment. Also, you should make something for yourself. Oftentimes 'makers of things' (this is what we are called) make things for everyone but ourselves. So please, make something beautiful... and make it for yourself. You are important and special.
Yarn: We Will Tell You All Of Our Secrets Chunky MerinoDyed with Fennel and mordanted with alum and iron (96% merino/ 4% nylon wrap- 100m/ 109yds- 100g) 3 skeins (300m/327yds)
Needles: 10mm- 24" or longer circular needles. Gauge: 7 sts and 12 rows is 4"X4" in stockinette stitch blocked Finished size: 80" across and 30" from 80" across → 30" from cast on to cast off Abbreviations: k- knit p- purl slm- slip the place marker pm- place marker m1- make a stitch using your preferred method. I prefer M1L from knittinghelp.com yo- yarn over k2tog- knit two stitches together ssk- slip, slip, knit sts- stitches rep- repeat
And now we knit!
Cast on 10 sts, placing markers after the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th sts. Row 1- k2, slm, m1, k to next pm, m1, slm, k2, slm, m1, k to next pm, m1, slm, k2 Row 2- k2, slm, p to next pm, slm, k2, slm, p to next pm, slm, k2 Row 3- k2, slm, m1, k to next pm, m1, slm, k2, slm, m1, k to next pm, m1, slm, k2 Row 4- k2, slm, p to next pm, slm, k2, slm, p to next pm, slm, k2 Row 5- k2, slm, m1, \*yo, ssk. rep from \* to next pm, m1, slm, k2, slm, m1, \*k2tog, yo. rep from \* to next pm, m1, slm, k2 Row 6- k2, slm, p to next pm, slm, k2, slm, p to next pm, slm, k2 Row 7- k2, slm, m1, \*yo, ssk. rep from \* to next pm, m1, slm, k2, slm, m1, \*k2tog, yo. rep from \* to next pm, m1, slm, k2 Row 8- k2, slm, p to next pm, slm, k2, slm, p to next pm, slm, k2 Row 9- k2, slm, m1, \*k1, p1. rep from \* to next pm, m1, slm, k2, slm, m1, \*p1, k1. rep from \* to next pm, m1, k2 Row 10- k2, slm, \*p1, k1. rep from \* to next pm, slm, k2, slm, \*k1, p1. rep from \* to next pm, slm, k2 Row 11- k2, slm, m1, \*p1, k1. rep from \* to next pm, m1, slm, k2, slm, m1, \*k1, p1. rep from \* to next pm, m1, k2 Row 12- k2, slm, \*k1, p1. rep from \* to next pm, slm, k2, slm, \*p1, k1. rep from \* to next pm, slm, k2 Row 13- k2, slm, m1, k to next pm, m1, slm, k2, slm, m1, k to next pm, m1, slm, k2 Row 14- k all sts Row 15- k2, slm, m1, k to next pm, m1, slm, k2, slm, m1, k to next pm, m1, slm, k2 Row 16-k all sts Repeat rows 1-16 five times (for a total of 80 rows) Bind off loosely.
As a note on how to alter this pattern: Please feel free to use whatever yarn weight you like. Make sure to use a needle size that gives you a drape of fabric that you adore. If you aren't sure how much yarn to use to make your shawl the size you'd like, find other shawl patterns that you enjoy that are the same weight of yarn you wish to use. This is a good way to figure out the approximate yardage that you will need, but keep in mind to always get extra yarn. It is not fun to run out of a dye lot/ colour!
Thank you. Thank you for taking the time with this pattern. If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or life lessons e-mail me at caitlinffrench@gmail.com My adventures are found at www.wewilltellyouallofoursecrets.com Thank you to Sylvia for the photos. xo. www.softsweaterfibres.blogspot.ca Please support your local yarn store. Mine is Baaad Anna's in East Vancouver! www.baaadannas.com
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