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earth faire beads


I am addicted to mohair.

I especially love laceweight kid mohair and silk blends. Mmmmmmmm. And because of that, I usually have an odd ball of a few different colors kicking around in my stash. I’ve knitted a couple of one skein scarves, but I wanted something different. So I went in search of a cowl (aka wimple or smoke ring) pattern that would take one ball of Kidsilk Haze, would be fairly quick and easy, and would look impressive enough to give as a gift. I couldn’t find one that used so little yarn. So out came the graph paper!

And here it is: two variations on a theme - a super simple feather and fan pattern with shaping incorporated into the lace. The pattern gets its name from the silver foil lined beads scattered throughout the garter stitch version. They look for all the world like little flecks of ice caught in the lace.

And best of all? Wearing it makes you feel like a movie star!

model: Emma Monrad, Rosemary Hill photos: Rosemary Hill, Clint Holeman

SIZE
One
 
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Circumference at upper edge: 21 inches
Circumference at lower edge: 32 inches
Length: 21 inches
Note: Measurements taken after blocking.
 
MATERIALS

Rowan Kidsilk Haze [70% superkid mohair/30% silk; 229yd/210m per 25g ball]; 1 ball
Version A (stockinette st lace, shown in dark grey at right): #605 Smoke
Version B (garter st lace, shown in light blue above): #592 Heavenly

Recommended needle size:
Main Needle: 16-inch circular needle; size US #8/5mm for Version A, size US #7/4.5mm for Version B
Smaller Needle: 16-inch US #5/3.75mm circular needle (same size for both versions)
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]

Beads:
Version A: 60 size 4mm Swarovski crystal pearls; color: Tahitian
Version B: 300 size 6 silver foil lined seed beads; color: ice blue

Crochet hook or fine gauge wire small enough to fit through holes in beads
Note: See Pattern Notes re. Placing Beads before buying the crochet hook or wire.

Smooth waste yarn
Crochet hook (used for working Provisional Cast On)
Stitch markers
Row counter
Cable needle
Sewing needle

 
GAUGE
Note: Gauges given are approximate; exact gauge is not critical for this project. Wash and finger block your lace swatch before measuring gauge.
Version A: 22 sts/17 rows = 4 inches in chart pattern on US #8/5mm needle
Version B: 22 sts/18 rows = 4 inches in chart pattern on US #7/4.5mm needle
 
PATTERN NOTES

[Knitty’s list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here]

SK2P: Sl 1 knitwise, k2tog, pass slipped st over.

T3: Sl next 3 sts to cable needle, rotate cable needle 180 degrees clockwise, k3 from cable needle.

Placing Beads:
As shown, Version B uses beads which have holes large enough to accommodate a small crochet hook. If you use beads with similarly large holes, beads may be placed using the technique detailed here.

Scroll down to "Hooking beads as you go".
Version A as shown uses beads which are too small to placed using a crochet hook. If you use beads with small holes, they may be placed using the technique shown here.


Picot Bind Off
[CO 2 sts using Knitted Cast On; k2tog tbl, k1 tbl, pass first st worked over second st as if binding off, BO 2 sts, sl st from right needle back to left needle] until all sts have been bound off. When you reach the end of the round, pick up a st from the beginning of the round to complete the final [BO 2]; this will prevent a gap from forming at the end of the round.

Beaded Picot Bind Off
[CO 2 sts using Knitted Cast On; k2tog tbl, place bead on next stitch on left hand needle, k beaded st tbl, pass first st worked over second st as if binding off, BO 2 sts, sl st from right needle back to left needle] until all sts have been bound off. When you reach the end of the round, pick up a st from the beginning of the round to complete the final [BO 2]; this will prevent a gap from forming at the end of the round.

Directions for the Provisional Cast On used for this project may be found here.
Directions for the Knitted Cast On can be found here.
Directions for the Russian Join can be found here.

 
PATTERN
Using Provisional Cast On and waste yarn, CO 156 sts onto main needle.

Using working yarn and main needle, for Version A, k 1 round; for Version B, p 1 round.
Place marker and join
to begin working in the round, being careful not to twist.

Version A Only:
K 2 rounds.
Work Rounds 1-20 of Chart A, placing beads as indicated. Chart is repeated 6 times in each round; place markers between repeats if desired. Use row counter to keep track of rounds; chart indicates which rounds contain beads.
When Round 20 is complete, 108 sts remain.
Work Rounds 21-24 of Chart A 14 times.

Version B Only:
K 1 round.
P 1 round.
Work Rounds 1-20 of Chart B, placing beads as indicated. Chart is repeated 6 times in each round; place markers between repeats if desired. Use row counter to keep track of rounds; chart indicates which rounds contain beads.
When Round 20 is complete, 108 sts remain.
Work Rounds 21-24 of Chart B 16 times, then work Rounds 21-22 once more.

Both Versions:
Remove marker at beginning of round, k1, replace marker. Using smaller needle, proceed as follows:
Rounds 1-2: [P3, k3] to end.
Round 3: [P1, place bead, p1, T3] to end.
Round 4: [P3, k3] to end.
BO all sts using Picot Bind Off and smaller needle.

Version A Only:
Remove waste yarn from CO edge and place resulting live sts on needle. Join working yarn to yarn tail from CO using Russian Join.
BO all sts using Picot Bind Off and smaller needle.

Version B Only:
Remove waste yarn from CO edge and place resulting live sts on needle. Join working yarn to yarn tail from CO using Russian Join.
BO all sts using Beaded Picot Bind Off and smaller needle.

FINISHING
Use sewing needle to sew in ends. Wet block, stretching lengthwise and smoothing out bottom scallops. Do not use blocking wires or pins.
ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Rosemary (aka Romi) lives with three wonderful men in wine country. In 2005 she became a purveyor of shawl, scarf and sweater pins when she launched Designs by Romi, and since then it’s been taking up most of her time. Right now, she’s hard at work on a book for Interweave Press on knit and crocheted jewelry. She’s just happy to be mixing work with play!

Drop by her blog to see what she’s up to these days!