Isobel
In college I began writing a screenplay about the zombie apocalypse, as you do. Isobel is the main character, a young woman who is at once angry, grieving, and deeply concerned with right and wrong. I have always had a very clear picture of her in my mind, and tried to capture what I see with this shawl: someone who starts out rather straight forward, but quickly shifts to something morecomplex. The shawl itself is very simple, however. Using only knits, purls, and basic increases, I think it would make an excellent first pattern for someone looking to venture away from scarves and other rectangles. It is also a good pattern to use with gradient dyed yarns. Please note that the sample used very nearly the entire skein; if you are a cautious knitter or want to make it bigger, I would recommend having extra yardage on hand. Finished size: 51.5" wingspan x 26" at deepest point, after blocking
Materials:
400 yds. fingering weight yarn. Sample used Neighborhood Fiber Co. "Studio Sock”" in the Station North colorway. ·24" US 5 (3.75mm) circular needle ·3 stitch markers tapestry needle for weaving in ends 17 sts x 33 rows = 4" in stockinette, after blocking. Gauge is not critical. Abbreviations Used: cO = cast on st/sts = stitch/stitches k = knit p = purl kfb = knit into front and back of stitch, increase BO = bind off pm = place marker sm = slip marker Directions: Set Up and Stockinette Section: Using long-tail cast on, CO 3 stitches. Knit 8 rows, do not turn work. Along top edge, pick up and knit 4 stitches, then 3 stitches along cast-on edge. Turn work, k3, p4, k3. (10 sts total) Row 1 (Rs): k3, pm, kfb twice, pm, kfb twice, pm, k3 (14 sts) Row 2(ws): k3,sm, purl to edge marker, sm, k3 Row 3: k3, sm, kfb, kto 1 st before center marker, kfb, sm, kfb, k to 1 st before edge marker, kfb, sm, k3 (18 sts) Repeat rows 2 and 3 until there are 182 sts total (88 body sts + 3 edge sts on each side of center marker). If you want the shawl to be larger or smaller, add or subtract rows here, making sure that each body section ends up with a multiple of 4 sts. End with a RS row. Knit-Purl TextureSections: Row 1 (ws): k3, sm, \*k1, p3\* across to center marker, sm, \*p3, k1\* across to edge marker, sm, k3 Rows 2 and 4 (Rs): k3, sm, kfb, k to 1 st before center marker, kfb, sm, kfb, k to 1 st before edge marker, kfb, sm, k3 Row 3: k3, sm, purl to edge marker, sm, k3 Repeat these last four rows 5 more times (24 rows total, 230 sts). Row 1 (ws): k3, sm, \*k1, p1\* across to center marker, sm, \*p1, k1\* across to edge marker, sm, k3 Rows 2, 4, 6, and 8 (Rs): k3, sm, kfb, k to 1 st before center marker, kfb, sm, kfb, k to 1 st before edge marker, kfb, sm, k3 Row 3 and 7: k3, sm, p to edge marker, sm, k3 Row 5: k3, sm, \*p1, k1\* across to center marker, sm, \*k1, p1\* across to edge marker, sm, k3 Repeat these last 8 rows one more time (16 rows total, 262 sts). Row 1 (ws): k3, sm, \*k1, p1\* across to center marker, sm, \*p1, k1\* across to edge marker, sm, k3 Row 2 (Rs): k3, sm, kfb, k to 1 st before center marker, kfb, sm, kfb, k to 1 st before edge marker, kfb, sm, k3 Repeat these last 2 rows 3 more times (8 rows total, 278 sts). Finishing and Bind-off WS row: k across. Do a picot bind off as follows: using knitted cast-on, CO 2 sts, bind off 6 sts, place remaining st on right needle back on left needle, \*CO 2 sts, B0 5 sts, place remaining st back onto left needle,\* repeat across until 4 sts remain, CO 2 sts, BO 4 sts, CO 2 sts, BO last 4 sts. Cut yarn and pull end through. Weave in ends, block if desired.
If you have questions, or have spotted an error, please feel free to let me know by either sending me a PM on Ravelry (username: Halias), or sending an email to rflupin@aim.com.
