Wilwarinda

Wilwarinda, a free knitting pattern from Knitty.com. Free knitting pattern for a DETAILS HERE.

INTRODUCTION

Wilwarinda

beauty shot

Tangy

Over three-thousand people have knit Lanesplitter, and for good reason - bias fabric provides a balance between stretch and sag. The ridges reminded me of another Knitty pattern: Nymphalidea, with its welts and delicate ruffled lace edging. It was love at first sight, with all the difficulties that follow. A simple marriage of the two, substituting the stitch pattern of the shawl onto the shape of the skirt, would have yielded a ruffled waist and a flat hem. Thus the direction of Lanesplitter flipped, moving the Nymphalidea lace to the hem. Bind off triangles kept the math straightforward, and the edge changed character. I was uncertain about those pointy ruffles, so I knew I had to consult a friend. "I like it," she said, "It's a little elvish."

While elvish was not the look I had initially envisioned, it did suit the skirt perfectly. I followed her train of thought and investigated the languages of Tolkien to find the name of this pattern. In the Qenya constructed language, "wilwarinda" means butterfly-like, honoring the shawl named for butterflies.

This wrap-around skirt (shown below) has a large amount of excess fabric used as overlap. Choose a size that measures approximately 24 inches/61 cm more than your desired waistband circumference. Or simply wrap it around your shoulders.

spacer model: Naomi Eckmann

spacer photos: Jim Eckmann

SIZE

Women's XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X]
Shown in size 1X

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Waistband Circumference, including 24 inch/61 cm overlap: 58.25[61, 63.75, 66.5, 70.5, 77.5, 78.75, 80.25] inches / 148[155, 162, 169, 179, 197, 200, 204] cm
Length: 24 inches/61 cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
spacer [MC] Stonehenge Fiber Mill Shepherd's Wool Worsted [100% Merino; 250 yd/229 m per 113g skein]; color: 102210 Berries; 2[2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3] skeins
spacer [CC] Knitwhits Freia Handpaints Freia Ombré Sock [75% Wool, 25% Nylon; 215 yd/197 m per 50g skein]; color: Woodman; 2[2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3] skeins

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
spacer US #6/4mm circular needle, 24 inches/60 cm long

Notions
spacer yarn needle
spacer 4 buttons (optional)

GAUGE

17 sts/23 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette stitch
Note: Pattern is knit to measure, so work at a gauge that produces the desired fabric. Please note that changes in gauge may change total amount of yarn used.

PATTERN NOTES

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

Stitch counts are given throughout for pattern worked at the specified gauge. If you are working to length at a different gauge, your stitch count may differ.

This version is shown worn above the hip.

Techniques:

DIRECTIONS

With MC, CO 4 sts.
Row 1 [RS]: Knit.
Row 2 [WS]: Knit.
Row 3: Kfb, k1, kfb, k1. 6 sts.
Row 4: Knit.

Increase Section
Join CC.

Using CC only:
Row 1 [RS]: Kfb, k to last 2 sts, kfb, k1. 2 sts increased.
Row 2 [WS]: Purl.

Using MC only:
Rows 3 and 5 [RS]: Kfb, k to last 2 sts, kfb, k1. 2 sts increased.
Rows 4 and 6 [WS]: Knit.

Note: In following repeats, capture CC at selvage between Rows 4 and 5 by bringing CC over MC before beginning Row 5.
Rep Rows 1-6 16 times more, or until work measures 18 inches/45.5 cm, or desired length before beginning ruffles. 108 sts (see Pattern Notes).

Begin Ruffles:
Using CC only:
Row 1 [RS]: Kfb, k to last 2 sts, yo, k2. 2 sts increased.
Row 2 [WS]: P10, turn.
Row 3 [RS]: Slp, (k2tog, yo) 3 times, k1, yo, k2. 1 st increased.
Row 4 [WS]: P8, turn.
Row 5 [RS]: Slp, (k2tog, yo) twice, k1, yo, k2. 1 st increased.
Row 6 [WS]: P6, turn.
Row 7 [RS]: Slp, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, k2. 1 st increased.
Row 8 [WS]: BO 3 sts purlwise, purl to end. 3 sts decreased.

Using MC only:
Rows 9 and 11 [RS]: Kfb, k to last 2 sts, yo, k2. 2 sts increased.
Rows 10 and 12 [WS]: Knit.
Note: Continue to capture [CC] yarn between [MC] rows as above.

Using CC:
Row 13 [RS]: Kfb, knit to last 2 sts, yo, k2. 2 sts increased.
Row 14 [WS]: P16, turn.
Row 15 [RS]: Slp, (k2tog, yo) 6 times, k1, yo, k2. 1 st increased.
Row 16 [WS]: P14, turn.
Row 17 [RS]: Slp, (k2tog, yo) 5 times, k1, yo, k2. 1 st increased.
Row 18 [WS]: P12, turn.
Row 19 [RS]: Slp, (k2tog, yo) 4 times, k1, yo, k2. 1 st increased.
Row 20 [WS]: P10, turn.
Row 21 [RS]: Slp, (k2tog, yo) 3 times, k1, yo, k2. 1 st increased.
Row 22 [WS]: BO 4 sts purlwise, purl to end. 4 sts decreased, 116 sts total.


Straight Section
Using MC only:
Rows 1 and 3 [RS]: Kfb, knit to last 2 sts, yo, k2. 2 sts increased.
Rows 2 and 4 [WS]: Knit.
Note: Continue to capture CC between MC rows as above.

Using CC only:
Row 5 [RS]: Kfb, knit to last 2 sts, yo, k2. 2 sts increased.
Row 6 [WS]: P22, turn.
Row 7 [RS]: Slp, (k2tog, yo) 9 times, k1, yo, k2. 1 st increased.
Row 8 [WS]: P20, turn.
Row 9 [RS]: Slp, (k2tog, yo) 8 times, k1, yo, k2. 1 st increased.
Row 10 [WS]: P18, turn.
Row 11 [RS]: Slp, (k2tog, yo) 7 times, k1, yo, k2. 1 st increased.
Row 12 [WS]: P16, turn.
Row 13 [RS]: Slp, (k2tog, yo) 6 times, k1, yo, k2. 1 st increased.
Row 14 [WS]: BO 10 sts purlwise, purl to end. 10 sts decreased, 116 sts total.

Repeat Rows 1-14 22[24, 26, 28, 31, 36, 37, 38] times more or until right (unruffled) edge of work measures approx. 52.75[55.5, 58.25, 61, 65, 72, 73.25, 74.75] inches / 134[141, 148, 155, 165, 183, 186, 190] cm or approx. 5.5 inches / 14 cm shorter than desired length, ending after Row 14.

Taper
Using MC only:
Rows 1 and 3 [RS]: Kfb, knit to last 5 sts, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k1.
Rows 2 and 4 [WS]: Knit.
Note: Continue to capture CC between MC rows as above.

Using CC only:
Row 5 [RS]: Kfb, knit to last 5 sts, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k1.
Row 6 [WS]: P22, turn.
Row 7 [RS]: Slp, (k2tog, yo) 9 times, k1, yo, k2. 1 st increased.
Row 8 [WS]: P20, turn.
Row 9 [RS]: Slp, (k2tog, yo) 8 times, k1, yo, k2. 1 st increased.
Row 10 [WS]: P18, turn.
Row 11 [RS]: Slp, (k2tog, yo) 7 times, k1, yo, k2. 1 st increased.
Row 12 [WS]: P16, turn.
Row 13 [RS]: Slp, (k2tog, yo) 6 times, k1, yo, k2. 1 st increased.
Row 14 [WS]: BO 10 sts purlwise, purl to end. 10 sts decreased.

Repeat Rows 1-14 twice more, then repeat Rows 1-13 once. Alternatively, work in this way until enough yarn remains for bind off. 92 sts.

BO row [WS]: BO 10 sts purlwise, BO rem sts using Jeny's Suprisingly Stretchy Bind Off, processing all sts as purl sts.

FINISHING

Secure all ends with yarn needle.
Wash and block, gently stretching skirt vertically to maximize length. Skirt will shorten when wrapped.
Sew two pairs of buttons together back-to-back. Attach to each end of the skirt, and fasten where needed to wrap. Alternately, use large safety pins or shawl pins.

schematic

SCHEMATIC MEASUREMENTS
A: Waistband: 58.75[61.5, 64.25, 67, 71, 78, 79.25, 80.75] inches / 149[156, 163, 170, 180.5, 198, 201.5, 205] cm
B: Length: 24 inches / 61 cm
C: Hem (above ruffles): 34.75[37.5, 40.25, 43, 47, 54, 55.25, 56.75] inches / 88.5[95.5, 102, 109, 119.5, 137, 140.5, 144] cm

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

designername Naomi Eckmann takes her sons to the park so she can knit while they play, unless she brings her spindle instead. Her knitting is inspired by long meetings, midnight feedings, and warm feelings.

Thoughts on Twitter, photos on Instagram, and patterns on Ravelry.

Pattern & images © 2017 Naomi Eckmann.