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Elegantly Simple Feather and Fan Shetland Lace
— elegant results with bit-sized steps in simple knitting —
Our June KAL features a beautiful stitch pattern from the Shetland lace family of feather and fan stitches. Stitch patterns in this family are characterized by a series of yarn overs on the same row without intervening compensating decreases. Instead, the compensating decreases are made using either of 2 methods.
1. A compound decrease is each made to left and right of the series of yarn overs (as they are in our June KAL patterns).
Elegantly Simple Baby Blanket in Shetland feather and fan lace using compensating left- and right-slanting triple decreases on a single row
2. The compensating decreases are completed on subsequent rows (an example is the stitch pattern used in the hand portion of my Terzetto Lace Mitts design).
Terzetto Lace Mitts with Shetland feather and fan lace in hand portion (stitch pattern uses compensating single decreases over multiple rows)
Simpler than it looks
Shetland feather and fan lace stitch patterns are popular because they look complicated, but usually are quite easy to knit. For the Elegantly Simple bookmark and baby blanket projects in our June KAL, we have both elegance and simple techniques.
Note how the beginning and ending borders are gracefully scalloped, and the side borders also have dainty small scallops. There are a lot of interesting things going on in the interior of the fabric as well, with the the curvy textural elements of the compound decrease and gentle waves of eyelets.
This is all accomplished with just 4 rows, and 3 of those are basically “rest” rows! (i.e. simple plain knit/purl in rows 2 – 4)
Row 1 is the only lace patterning row. It a little more complicated and you will need to pay some attention especially when first learning the somewhat unusual left- and right-slanting triple decreases used in this particular variation of feather and fan.
Elegantly Simple Bookmark can be used to practice, or just because you want to knit this beautiful stitch pattern in a small, quick project
Once you practice a bit (I’ve included a free bookmark project just for that purpose!), the stitch pattern just sort of flows and comes off so easily from the needles, looking more complicated than it really is. You will impress everyone!
I’ve given step-by-step written instructions for the special triple decreases in the Abbreviations section of the Baby Blanket pattern. If you are a visual person, I’ll also have support articles here at KnitHeartStrings with photos that break these 2 triple decrease techniques into bit-sized simple steps. Stay tuned!
p.s. Last year’s 2013 BOBBOL, the Mini Flag used another Shetland lace pattern from the Old Shale family of stitch patterns, from which feather and fan derived.
Next Up KAL: Charity Knitting Made Elegantly Simple
— Charity Knitting Made Simply Elegant —
June’s featured learn-and-knit-along in the Beyond BOBBOL 2014 Series will focus on charity knitting. For this KAL only, everyone will be able to get the main project patterns for free!
First, we’ll knit a small bookmark to learn and practice a beautiful pattern stitch in the Shetland family of feather and fan stitches. The pattern stitch appears to be complicated with its multiple yarn overs and weird compound decreases, but in the KAL we’ll break it down into bit-sized steps with tips along the way that will make things simple. The pattern for this will be free for everyone in the KAL. I’m planning to have the pattern ready for you on June 5th, the usual date to start our monthly KAL’s.
Elegantly Simple Bookmark
Then you can move onto making a larger baby blanket if you want. It uses the same pattern stitch that we practice for the bookmark, so you’ll be ready to zoom along. The charity knitting pattern for Elegantly Simple Baby Blanket is free for everyone, too. Ideas for places to donate handmade baby items.
Elegantly Simple Baby Blanket
There will also be special discount offers June 5 – 25 on the companion Elegantly Simple Triangle Shawl pattern for KAL participants as an extra bonus. (Note: Premium members get free Ravelry delivery of this pattern May 25 – June 30.)
Shopping List
For the small practice bookmark, you’ll need —
- size 10 crochet thread or fingering weight yarn; amount is not terribly critical because we won’t be making this practice piece to an exact size: about 35 – 40 yards should do it
- knitting needles appropriate to the thread size. Tip to help you select needle size
- coordinating pony bead for head of tassel (i.e. a largish size bead with a large enough hole to pull several strands of your thread/yarn through); don’t stress over getting a bead for this — there are other ways of finishing the bookmark with a tassel
If you want to knit the baby blanket, you’ll need —
- 1600 – 1800 yards sport weight yarn for finished size of approx 45″ x 45″ (figure proportionately less yardage for a smaller blanket)
- size US 7 (4.5 mm) needles suggested
An Invitation to Join Us for KnitHeartStrings KAL’s
I hope you will join us to knit and learn along for Charity Knitting Made Simply Elegant as part of the Beyond BOBBOL series. If you are not yet a member of KnitHeartStrings, you can Join Here. There is lots of good knitting to come for 2014 Beyond BOBBOL!
Posted in Bits of Lace
2 Comments
Ideas for Beaded and Twisted Cords
Lorna’s Light necklace purse with chain of various types of beads, crystals, and semi-precious gemstones
A fun part of making a necklace purse is coming up with a coordinating cord to go around your neck. The Lorna’s Light pattern calls for a pre-made necklace chain or cord. You can purchase one, or re-cycle one from an old necklace, or even better — make your own unique creation!
Look around you for ideas, or just let your creative juices go free. Need help in getting jump started? Here are photos from a few of the necklace purses I have made. Note: Not all are the Lorna’s Light design and one is not even knitted, but the necklace cord ideas can be used interchangeably.
Simple Beaded Strand Cord
First up is a cord made simply of beads strung onto a strand of sturdy thread or bead stringing wire such as tiger tail beading cord.
Beaded bag with necklace cord of strung beads
In this example, the same beads were used in the necklace cord as were used in knitting the bag.
Fancy Beaded Strand Cord
Rather than simply stringing the same beads for the cord as above, you can use other coordinating beads, crystals and gemstones along with the beads used to knit the little purse. String them in whatever pleasing arrangement you want.
Closeup of beaded cord with various types of beads, crystals and gemstones
Twisted Cord
Another idea is simply to make a twisted cord from the same thread used for knitting your purse. Make it fancier by adding a beaded strand to your cord before the final twisting step.
Twisted cord with beaded strand added
This twisted cord uses more of the same thread and same beads as were used in knitting the bag.
Fancy Beaded Twisted Cord
This cord combines twisted strands with single strands.
fancy twisted beaded cord
Tips for Designing Your Own
- Determine the desired length for your necklace cord. I prefer a necklace purse a little longer than my other necklace jewelry, so usually go for an approximate 30 – 32″ length. Your mileage my vary though, so test it out with a length of waste thread temporarily attached to the top sides of your completed mini-purse to see what length you feel comfortable wearing.
- If doing a “fancy” version with various beads, crystals, gemstones, etc., preliminarily lay out your beads in a test sequence. Then step back to observe. Rearrange as needed before actually stringing to make your necklace cord.
- If stringing beads, be sure to use a sturdy thread or bead stringing wire such as tiger tail beading cord.
Be creative and have fun! I’d love to see what you come up with, and I am sure other members would love to see. You can upload any photos you’d like to share at the KAL Projects Photo Gallery. If you need help posting photos, let me know and I will be happy to help.
Posted in Tips & Techniques
3 Comments
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