Summmer Travels Inspiration Part Five - Lady's Tresses Shawl

So this is the final pattern in our series inspired by my travels in Summer 2016 (yes, I am that far behind on my pattern writing!) This pattern was inspired by a biking trip near Aviemore in the Scottish Highland where we came across a patch of beautiful Lady's Tresses orchids (yes, we do have orchids in Scotland!)

I absolutely love looking for unusual wildflowers, and finding wild orchids is always very special. Lady's Tresses shawl has a pretty floral motif and pointed edging, inspired by their delicate flowerheads. And the rest of the bike ride was very scenic too, through Scot's pine forest.

The shawl itself is very quick to knit, using less than 380yds / 350m of laceweight yarn. It starts with a garter stitch band shaped with short rows, then a band of floral lace which blends into a delicate lacy edging. Here's the pattern information:

Yarn:  Gemini Knits 2 ply Laceweight Baby Suri Alpaca/Merino (50% Baby Suri Alpaca, 50% Merino, 1097 yards / 1200m per 100g)

Colourway Stormclouds

380yds / 350m required

Dimensions: 9" / 22.5cm wide at the ends, 11" wide at the centre and 70" long.

Needles: US 6 / 4mm circular needle.  

Gauge: 16 sts = 4" / 10cm in stocking stitch after blocking.

Extras: Tapestry needle for weaving in loose ends, mat and t-pins for blocking.

 

Purchase the pattern on

Ravelry

Etsy

Craftsy

 

 

Summer Travels Part 2 - Fiacaill Ridge

On to part two! 

This is a series of five knitting patterns inspired by my travels in the Scottish Highlands this Summer. The first pattern was a cowl inspired by the colours of the hills at Abriachan - you can read more about it here!

Our second pattern is inspired by a traverse of the Fiacaill Ridge, an imposing rocky traverse in the Cairngorms:

It looks more scary as you climb higher as well! 

Having said that, once you're at the top of the ridge, it's very flat indeed on the Cairngorm Plateau.

Something I'm not used to at all after climbing so many West Coast munros - bit more of a jagged landscape. And we managed to spot the Cairngorm reindeer which was a real treat:

But back to the knitting: the pattern this inspired would have to be cosy - it's chilly up there! So I designed a cardigan with a warm shawl collar to wrap up in, in super-insulating alpaca and silk yarn. 

Alpaca fibres are hollow, to trap extra heat (they spend a lot of time up chilly mountains too...) so it's the perfect choice for cold weather garments. The design is inspired by the rocky terrain too - with a block pattern at the back made with smocking stitches. 

  Available to purchase on 

Ravelry 

Etsy 

Craftsy

20% discount on Ravelry with coupon code SUMMERTRAVELS2 until end of December 2017

The details for the pattern are as follows:

Yarn: Cloudborn Fibers Alpaca, Wool and Silk DK (45% Alpaca, 25% Merino, 30% Silk; 274yds/250m per 100g)

820 (950, 1095, 1250, 1420, 1580, 1750, 1930) yards.

750 (870, 1000, 1145, 1300, 1445, 1600, 1765) m 

Measurements:

To fit bust: 30-32 (34-36, 38-40, 42-44, 46-48, 50-52, 54-56, 58-60)”

Across back armpit to armpit: 15 (17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29)”

Armpit to hem: 16 (16.5, 17, 17.5, 18, 18.5, 19, 19.5)”

Around top of sleeve: 12 (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)”

Sleeve length: 17 (17, 17.5, 17.5, 18, 18.5, 19, 19)”

Gauge: 17sts and 26 rows = 4”/10cm in stocking st with US 7/4.5mm needle after blocking.

Needles: One US 7/4.5mm 40”/100cm circular needle.

Extras: Two detachable stitch markers; cable needle; spare 40” circular needles (size US 7/4.5mm or smaller) for holding stitches or waste yarn in a contrast colour; tapestry needle for weaving in loose ends.

 

Cladach Hat

A cute, quick knit hat in an easy to memorise lace pattern.

Yarn: Rowan Lima, 1 skein = 109 yards/100 metres

Needles: Set of four 5mm / US 8 double pointed needles (dpns), or one 5mm/US 8 circular needle for magic loop.

Gauge: 22 stitches and 28 rows =

4” in stocking stitch using 5mm needles,

ball-band gauge: 20sts = 4” in stocking stitch with 5.5mm needles.

Dimensions: To fit an average ladies head (about 22” around).

Notation:

CO = cast on

k = knit

kb= knit into back of next stitch

p = purl

yo = bring yarn forward

k2 tog = knit next two stitches together

sk2p = slip 1, k2tog, pass slipped stitch over.

Stitch Patterns

Twisted Rib

Round 1: *kb1 p1* to end of row.

Repeat Round 1 for pattern.

Cladach Lace Chart

Knit rows 2, 4, 6 and 8.

Cladach Lace Written Pattern:

Round 1: *p2 yo k3 sk2p k3 yo* to end.

Round 2: knit

Round 3: *p2 k1 yo k2 sk2p k2 yo k1* to end.

Round 4: knit

Round 5: *p2 k2 yo k1 sk2p k1 yo k2* to end.

Round 6: knit

Round 7: *p2 k3 yo sk2p yo k3* to end.

Round 8: knit.

Directions:

CO 72 stitches over three dpns (27 stitches on first needle, 27 on second, 18 on third) or on circular needle for magic loop method. Join stitches in the round ensuring they're not twisted and if using circular needle, place marker for beginning of row.

Work in Twisted Rib Pattern for 10 rounds, then work set up round as follows.

Set up round: *p2 yo k7 yo* until end of round. You should now have 88 stitches.

Work in Cladach Lace Pattern, starting on Round 2. Work to the end of the chart/written instructions, then work chart/written instructions three more times in full.

Work in stocking stitch (i.e. knit every round) for four rounds, then decrease as follows:

Decrease round 1: *k9 k2tog* to end of round.

Decrease round 2: knit.

Decrease round 3: *k8 k2tog* to end of round.

Decrease round 4: knit.

Decrease round 5 *k7 k2tog* to end of round.

Decrease round 6: knit.

Decrease round 7: *k6 k2tog* to end of round.

Decrease round 8: knit.

Decrease round 9: *k5 k2tog* to end of round.

Decrease round 10: *k4 k2tog* to end of round.

Decrease round 11: *k3 k2tog* to end of round.

Decrease round 12: *k2 k2tog* to end of round.

Decrease round 13: *k1 k2tog* to end of round.

Decrease round 14: *k2tog* to end of round.

You should have 8 stitches left. Cut the yarn, leaving a 6” tail. Thread the long tail onto a needle, and slip the 8 remaining stitches onto the thread. Pull tight and sew over the little hole at the top a few times. Weave in the loose ends on the wrong side and you're done!

Copyright Littletheorem