Saturday, May 24, 2008
Tidal Streams
Tidal Streams is an easy-knit lacy stole, perfect for a light wrap on warmer days.
Worked in a Lace Garter Stitch Pattern, one version for the ruffles and another for the main section, it is knit beginning from one end and finishing at the other. No provisinal cast-ons, no grafting, no 3-needle bind-off.
You begin by working the ruffles, then a decrease row--to create the ruffled effect--and then on to the main section which is all knit on the bias.
The bias is created by working a one-stitch increase on one side while working a one-stitch decrease on the other side, every alternate row.
There are many advantages to knitting a stole on the bias: the bias gives the finished piece excellent drape; it breaks up the colours in a variegated yarn (like the "Aquarius" colourway in the Celestial Merino yarn that I used here); the bias gives a look of movement and interest; and the knitting doesn't get boring.
Another effect of the bias knitting is to help turn the stole into an wrap. With the bias drape, Tidal Streams easily converts into a capelet/wrap, when you throw one end over your shoulder. You can secure it with a pin or just let it fall where it may.
Once the main section is complete, you finish the section with an increase row, and work the final ruffle.
This design can also be worked as a scarf, usually only one skein of the Celestial Merino . (The full-sized stole uses only 2 skeins. The magic of blocking--again!)
Instructions for both the stole and the scarf are included in the pattern.
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