Last week I wrote about incorporating a lace knit edging as you bind off the body of the shawl. Here’s another example this week – and a new pattern.

My newest shawl pattern is an asymmetrical shape that features a bottom edge in a contrasting color and a knit-on edge in that contrasting color as well.

The bottom edge (on the right) is knit as part of the body of the shawl, simply by changing colors on each row; and the knit-on edging (on the left) is worked from the final row of the body.

This shawl was knit with two shades of Malabrigo Lace yarn (100% baby merino), with the body of the shawl in Water Green, and the edge and the border in Indiecita.

About the design:
In Asian landscape paintings, artists typically incorporate mountains or rocks, water, the sky, trees, and greenery, along with a man-made element, such as a bridge, to create an overall image. The result is often abstract, leaving the viewer to explore the landscape the artist created.

Living in Asia, I come across many painted scrolls from China and other parts of eastern Asia and often have the opportunity to view the scenery that has inspired artists for centuries.

This shawl is my interpretation of an Asian landscape, worked in lace stitch patterns that are meant to evoke hilly terrain, flowing water with the hint of a bridge, tree branches, and abundant foliage.

Intermediate knitting ability with some lace knitting experience is necessary for this pattern.

You’ll find the pattern on Ravelry. The accessory is available for purchase on Etsy.

Happy Knitting!
MikeH

Lace edgings have been used as embellishments for garments, bedding, table coverings, and other objects for centuries – and remain popular today.

Sometimes lace edgings are knit as a strip of the desired length, and then sewn on to the object. This is most typically the case when the garment or table covering is made of woven fabric.

Here’s an example of a simple but attractive lace knit edging that could enhance a sleeve edge  – or the bottom edge of a knit shawl.

It would be attached by sewing it (at the body edge) to the garment or object to be embellished.

Here’s the stitch pattern for this simple loopy edging – knit on US4 needles (3.5mm), with a lace-weight yarn:

CO 6
Row 1: K1, K2tog, YO, K2, YO twice, K1 (8 stitches)
Row 2: K1, (K1, P1 into double YO), K5 (8 stitches)
Row 3: K1, K2tog, YO, K5 (8 stitches)
Row 4: BO 2 sts, P2tog, YO, K3 (6 stitches)
Repeat these 4 rows to the desired length.

Knit-on Edging
If you’d like to add this on at the bottom (or end) edge of a shawl, it can be knit on as an elaborate type of bind-off:

Be sure that you have the right number of stitches to accommodate the pattern. For example, the example below is a 4-row pattern. The number of stitches on your needles must be divisible by 2 to accommodate this stitch pattern.

With the right side of your work facing you, CO an additional 6 stitches (cable cast-on method recommended):

K5, and then K the 6th stitch together with the next stitch on your left needle. You should have 6 stitches on your right needle and have decreased 1 stitch on your left needle.

Then, work as follows:
Row 1: K1, K2tog, YO, K2, YO twice, K1 (8 stitches)
Row 2: K1, (K1, P1 into double YO), K4, K the next stitch together with the next stitch on your left needle (8 stitches)
Row 3: K1, K2tog, YO, K5 (8 stitches)
Row 4: BO 2 sts, P2tog, YO, K2, K the next stitch together with the next stitch on your left needle (6 stitches)
Repeat these 4 rows to the desired length

Here’s what a knit-on lace edging looks like with a different stitch pattern:

This is a stitch pattern I’m using in an upcoming shawl project.

If you’d like to see shawl patterns that use this method, check out my Ravelry page (Sea Foam and Country Chic for example).

If you’d like to see some of my finished accessories, visit my Etsy shop.

Happy Knitting!
MikeH

Berries and Wine is a simple and fun knit that requires just 1 skein of this luxury Cherry Tree Hill yarn – or your favorite sock yarn.

It’s knit sideways and makes a scarf/wrap that’s asymmetrical in form and is best worn with a brooch/scarf pin.

There are rows of eyelets that give the hint of berries and the variegated colors are sure to remind you of a good red wine along with blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and more!

The accessory is a great neck wrap for a cool fall day.

Measurements: 42x41x24 inches (106x104x61xm)

The pattern is available on Ravelry and a finished scarf can be purchased on Etsy.

Happy Knitting!
MikeH

I really like the unique shape of this sideways-knit asymmetrical shawl. I knit it by hand from my original design and it grows from a few stitches to the other edge that’s finished with a knit-on frothy waves edging, and beads on some of the wave crests!

The yarn is one I’ve knit with before and I particularly like the subtle tones of the watered sea-foam green of the hand-dyed wool-blend yarn. The beads are off-white, foil-lined translucent Japanese glass (6mm).

Finished size of the shawl:
57 x 47 x 33 inches after blocking (145 x 120 x 84cm)

The pattern is available on Ravelry, Craftsy, and LoveKnitting. There’s also a completed version of the shawl available on Etsy.

Happy Knitting!
MikeH

I read that style experts declared Marsala as the color of the year for 2015, so I bought some lace weight (superfine) yarn that’s 40% silk, 50% merino, and 10% kid mohair in that color and decided to try the yarn with my Blossoms and Vines lace knit scarf pattern.

I like the color with this design, and the stitch definition with this yarn.

To make the scarf you need 1-1/2 25g balls of ICE Yarn Silk (around 300 yards/275 meters) check. I used 3.0mm needles (US size 2.5)

The finished scarf measures 6 x 54 inches (15 x 137 cm).

Give it a try and let me know if you have any questions or comments.

You can find this pattern and my other original scarf, shawl, and bandana designs on Ravelry, Craftsy, and LoveKnitting – and some of my finished accessories for sale on Etsy.

Happy Knitting!
MikeH