Our shawl is off to a great start and now it’s time to add a few more sections and patterns.  Before we begin, some knitters have expressed concern that their MC is weighing less than the stated weights I have given.  The final section of the shawl will be one that can be easily adjusted to fewer rows if you have a smaller amount of yarn.  Don’t worry and knit on with confidence!

Section #4 – Stripes

Following last week’s Little Gulls is a bit of striping to separate the stitch patterns.  The striping frames the pattern below and sets the stage for a lovely design in Section #5.  Continue to carry the yarns up the side of the fabric while striping for a clean edge.  For your convenience, I continue to provide stitch counts.  At the conclusion on Section #4, cut the Contrasting Color yarn as it will not be used in Section #5.

Section #5 – Garter and Lace

This section features a happy little lace pattern that combines both garter and stockinette.  It is a joy to knit and I can imagine it making its way into all sorts of knitting projects.

I have long been vexed by the inability of a left leaning decrease to exactly mimic the tidy appearance of the right leaning k2tog.  An ssk is very close to mirroring a k2tog, but just not tidy enough, especially when the decreases appear side by side.  I have found that if the ssk is worked slightly differently, it results in a left lean that is pretty darn close to the k2tog.  To work the Improved SSK, slip the first stitch of the pair as if to knit (as in a standard ssk) and then slip the second stitch as if to purl.  Insert the left hand needle into the front of these two stitches and then knit them together.  A simple alteration with big results!  This version of the ssk can be used any time a pattern asks for an ssk.  I recommend using this version of the ssk in the Garter and Lace pattern for beautiful lace diamonds.  Watch my newest video and see if you agree.  See ssk Improved video.

This fairly simple design only looks complicated due to the number of rows in this section.  The written row instructions spell out the edge stitches, the ten-stitch repeat and the stitch counts for all 54 rows.

For chart lovers, I have broken the rows into two charts for easier reading.  The charts have the same edge anomalies as found in last week’s post, but by now you are no doubt used to its irregularities.  As always, if the chart poses a question, simply refer to the written row directions for confirmation.  Work each chart once.

At the end of Section #5, don’t cut the Main Color yarn as it will be used in next week’s Section #6.

Until next week, happy knitting!

Michelle

Part Two

Click here to download printable version

Abbreviations

CC – contrasting color.

k2tog – knit two together.  See K2tog Video

kfb – knit into front and back of stitch.  See Kfb Video

MC – main color.

ssk (Improved) – slip next stitch as if to knit, slip next stitch as if to purl, insert left needle into the front of these two slipped stitches from left to right and knit together.  See SSK Improved Video 

yo – yarn over.  See Yarn Over Video

 

Instructions

Section #4 (MC and CC)

Row 1. (RS) With MC, k1, kfb, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.

Row 2. (WS) With MC, knit to last 2 sts, kfb, k1.  81 sts

Row 3. With CC, same as 1.

Row 4. With CC, same as 2.  82 sts

Row 5.  With MC, same as 1.

Row 6.  With MC, same as 2.  83 sts

Row 7.  With CC, same as 1.

Row 8.  With CC, same as 2.  84 sts

Row 9.  With CC, same as 1.

Row 10.  With CC, same as 2.  85 sts

Row 11.  With MC, same as 1.

Row 12.  With MC, same as 2.  86 sts

Row 13.  With CC, same as 1.

Row 14.  With CC, same as 2.  87 sts

Cut CC yarn.  MC = 157g.   First skein of CC = 18g

 

Section #5 (All MC)

Garter and Lace Diamonds (See Charts below)

Row 1. (RS) K1, kfb, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.

Row 2. (WS) K5, p2, k4, *k4, p2, k4; repeat from * to last 6 sts, k4, kfb, k1.  88 sts

Row 3.  Same as 1.

Row 4.  *K4, p2, k4; repeat from * to last 8 sts, k4, p2, kfb, k1.  89 sts

Row 5.  Same as 1.

Row 6.  K3, p2, k4, *k4, p2, k4; repeat from * to last 10 sts, k4, p2, k2, kfb, k1.  90 sts

Row 7.  K1, kfb, k1, k2tog, yo, k2, yo, ssk, k2, *k2, k2tog, yo, k2, yo, ssk, k2; repeat from * to last 9 sts, k2, k2tog, yo, k2, k2tog, k1.

Row 8.  K2, purl to last 2 sts, kfb, k1.  91 sts

Row 9.  K1, kfb, k1, *k1, k2tog, yo, k4, yo, ssk, k1; repeat from * to last 8 sts, k1, k2tog, yo, k2, k2tog, k1.

Row 10.  Same as 8.  92 sts

Row 11.  K1, kfb, k1, yo, ssk, *k2tog, yo, k6, yo, ssk; repeat from * to last 7 sts, k2tog, yo, k2, k2tog, k1.

Row 12.  Same as 8.  93 sts

Row 13.  Same as 1.

Row 14.  K4, p1, *p1, k8, p1; repeat from * to last 8 sts, p1, k5, kfb, k1.  94 sts

Row 15.  Same as 1.

Row 16.  K3, p1, *p1, k8, p1; repeat from * to last 10 sts, p1, k7, kfb, k1.  95 sts

Row 17.  Same as 1.

Row 18.  K2, p1, *p1, k8, p1; repeat from * to last 2 sts, kfb, k1.  96 sts

Row 19.  K1, kfb, k1, *k1, yo, ssk, k4, k2tog, yo, k1; repeat from * to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.

Row 20.  Same as 8.  97 sts

Row 21.  K1, kfb, k3, *k2, yo, ssk, k2, k2tog, yo, k2; repeat from * to last 12 sts, k2, yo, ssk, k2, k2tog, yo, k1, k2tog, k1.

Row 22.  Same as 8.  98 sts

Row 23.  K1, kfb, k2tog, yo, k3, *k3, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k3; repeat from * to last 11 sts, k3, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k1, k2tog, k1.

Row 24.  Same as 8.  99 sts

Row 25.  Same as 1.

Row 26.  K3, p2, k4, *k4, p2, k4; repeat from * to last 10 sts, k4, p2, k2, kfb, k1.  100 sts

Row 27.  Same as 1.

Row 28.  K2, p2, k4, *k4, p2, k4; repeat from * to last 2 sts, kfb, k1.   101 sts

Row 29.  Same as 1.

Row 30.  K2, p1, k4, *k4, p2, k4; repeat from * to last 4 sts, k2, kfb, k1.  102 sts

Row 31.  K1, kfb, k3, *k2, k2tog, yo, k2, yo, ssk, k2; repeat from * to last 7 sts, k4, k2tog, k1.

Row 32.  Same as 8.  103 sts

Row 33.  K1, kfb, k2, yo, ssk, k1, *k1, k2tog, yo, k4, yo, ssk, k1; repeat from * to last 6 sts, k3, k2tog, k1.

Row 34.  Same as 8.  104 sts

Row 35.  K1, kfb, k5, yo, ssk, *k2tog, yo, k6, yo, ssk; repeat from * to last 5 sts, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k1.

Row 36.  Same as 8.  105 sts

Row 37.  Same as 1.

Row 38.  K2, p1, *p1, k8, p1; repeat from * to last 2 sts, kfb, k1.  106 sts

Row 39.  Same as 1.

Row 40.  K2, *p1, k8, p1; repeat from * to last 4 sts, p1, k1, kfb, k1.  107 sts

Row 41.  Same as 1.

Row 42.  K10, p1, *p1, k8, p1; repeat from * to last 6 sts, p1, k3, kfb, k1.  108 sts

Row 43.  K1, kfb, k2, k2tog, yo, k1, *k1, yo, ssk, k4, k2tog, yo, k1; repeat from * to last 11 sts, k1, yo, ssk, k5, k2tog, k1.

Row 44.  Same as 8.  109 sts

Row 45.  K1, kfb, k3, k2tog, yo, k2, *k2, yo, ssk, k2, k2tog, yo, k2; repeat from * to last 10 sts k2, yo, ssk, k3, k2tog, k1.

Row 46.  Same as 8.  110 sts

Row 47.  K1, kfb, k2, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k3, *k3, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k3; repeat from * to last 9 sts, k3, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, k1.

Row 48.  Same as 8.  111 sts

Row 49.  Same as 1.

Row 50.  K2, p1, k4, *k4, p2, k4; repeat from * to last 4 sts, k2, kfb, k1.  112 sts

Row 51.  Same as 1.

Row 52.  K6, *k4, p2, k4; repeat from * to last 6 sts, k4, kfb, k1.  113 sts

Row 53.  Same as 1.

Row 54.  K5, *k4, p2, k4; repeat from * to last 8 sts, k4, p2, kfb, k1.  114 sts

MC = 103g

Do NOT cut MC yarn as it will be used in next week’s Section #6.

 

Section #5 – Garter and Lace Diamonds, Rows 1 – 24 (MC)                                                                      

10-stitch repeat between red lines, work Rows 1-24 once

(Click on chart to enlarge)

Section #5 (cont.) – Garter and Lace Diamonds, Rows 25 – 54 (MC)                                                              

10-stitch repeat between red lines, work Rows 25-54 once

(Click on chart to enlarge)