I
love single-ply lace, and, as a beginning spinner, made it my
ambitious mission to come up with a skein of my own. I only had
the patience for about 300 yards of the super-thin pink stuff,
but it was just the right amount for a lacy Estonian-inspired
cowl. And dipping the finished yarn alternately between hot and
cold baths during setting made sure it would all stay together.
I spun it on my drop spindle as I unfortunately don't yet have
a wheel. There's also something extremely satisfying about making
very thin yarn on a drop spindle, and I enjoy the rhythm of it.
My drop spindle is very light (18g) so can handle spinning thin
singles very well as long as the staple length is long enough,
and I spun it so it ended up still soft spun, quite a bit like
Malabrigo Lace. It was definitely a learning experience and really
resulted in my first usable handspun yarn, and I'm quite proud
that it turned out so well. I must say that this project has
made me a spinning convert, and I foresee many hand-spun items
(and a wheel!) in my future.
If you’re blessed with the patience for extra yardage
(or are using a commercial yarn), you may want to add an extra
repeat of the Lace Pattern for a cowl that will fit snugly over
your head. (See pattern notes.)
Experiment with chopping and changing colors in hand-dyed roving
to create a flash of self-striping pattern. If nupps and hand-spun,
singly-ply yarn (understandably) scare you, why not add a scattering
of beads instead?
The stitch pattern used in the cowl is a classic Estonian pattern
called Spruce and Diamond, and “Kuusk” is Estonian
for spruce. It’s pronounced, roughly, “koosk”,
but with an alluring Scandinavian spin.
model: Ashley
Knowlton photos: Patrick
Count and Ashley Knowlton
MATERIALS
Fiber LHogan
[100% merino; roving]; color: Cocktails;
4 oz
Finished Yarn: Wraps
per inch: 22 Yardage
used: 220 yds Plies:
single Drafting
method: Short Draw
Commercial Yarn Alternative Malabrigo
Lace [100% merino; 470yd/430m per 50g skein]; color: Shocking Pink, #184;
1 skein
Recommended needle size [always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below
-- every knitter's gauge is unique] 24-inch
US #7/4.5mm circular needle
Spinning Tool: Enid
Ashcroft Oak Top Whorl Spindle,
18g
Tools Stitch
markers Yarn
needle
GAUGE
20 sts/36 rounds = 4 inches
in Lace Pattern stitch in the round, after blocking
PATTERN NOTES [Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]
To adjust length, simply work more repeats of the Lace Pattern.
Each additional repeat requires about 100yds of yarn, and will
add about 4 inches in length.
Nupp: Work (k1, yo, k1, yo, k1) into next st. On the next rnd,
you will knit these 5 sts together.
Edging Pattern 1 Worked over a multiple of 20 sts. Rnd 1: [Ssk, p2, k3, p2, yo,
k1, yo, p2, k3, p2, k2tog, k1] to end
of rnd. Rnd 2: [Ssk, p1, k3, p2, yo,
k3, yo, p2, k3, p1, k2tog, k1] to end
of rnd. Rnd 3: [Ssk, k3, p2, yo, k5,
yo, p2, k3, k2tog, k1] to end of rnd. Rnd 4: [Ssk, k2, p2, yo, k3,
nupp, k3, yo, p2, k2, k2tog, k1] to
end of rnd. Rnd 5: [K3, p2, k4, k5tog,
k4, p2, k4] to end of rnd.
Work Lace Pattern:
Lace Pattern
Worked over a multiple of 20 sts. Rnd 1: [K2, (yo, ssk) twice, k2, nupp, k1, nupp, k2,
(k2tog, yo) twice, k3] to end of rnd. Rnd 2: [K8, k5tog, k1, k5tog,
k9] to end of rnd. Rnd 3: [K1, (yo, ssk) twice,
k1, k2tog, yo, k1, nupp, k1, yo, ssk,
k1, (k2tog, yo) twice, k2] to end of
rnd. Rnd 4: [K9, k5tog, k10] to
end of rnd. Rnd 5: [K2, yo, ssk, k1, (k2tog, yo) twice, k1, (yo,
ssk) twice, k1, k2tog, yo, k3] to end of rnd. Rnd 6: Knit. Rnd 7: [K1, yo, ssk, k1, (k2tog,
yo) twice, k3, (yo, ssk) twice, k1,
k2tog, yo, k2] to end of rnd. Rnd 8: Knit. Rnd 9: [K3, (k2tog, yo) twice,
k5, (yo, ssk) twice, k4] to end of
rnd. Rnd 10: Knit. Rnd 11: [K2, (k2tog, yo) twice,
k7, (yo, ssk) twice, k3] to end of
rnd. Rnd 12: Knit. Rnd 13: [K1, (k2tog, yo) twice,
k2, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k2, (yo,
ssk) twice, k2] to end of rnd. Rnd 14: Knit. Rnd 15: [(K2tog, yo) twice,
k2, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk, k2, (yo,
ssk) twice, k1] to end of rnd. Rnd 16: Knit. Rnd 17: [K1, k2tog, yo, k2,
(k2tog, yo) twice, k1, (yo, ssk) twice,
k2, yo, ssk, k1, nupp] to end of rnd. Rnd 18: [K19, k5tog] to end
of rnd. Rnd 19: [Nupp, k3, (k2tog,
yo) twice, k3, (yo, ssk) twice, k3,
nupp, k1] to end of rnd. Rnd 20: [K5tog, k17, k5tog,
k1] to end of rnd. Rnd 21: [K2, yo, ssk, k1,
(k2tog, yo) twice, k1, (yo, ssk) twice,
k1, k2tog, yo, k2, nupp] to end of
rnd. Rnd 22: [K19, k5tog] to end
of rnd. Rnd 23: [K1, (yo, ssk) twice,
k1, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk, k1, (k2tog,
yo) twice, k2] to end of rnd. Rnd 24: Knit. Rnd 25: [K2, (yo, ssk) twice,
k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1, (k2tog,
yo) twice, k3] to end of rnd. Rnd 26: Knit. Rnd 27: [K3, (yo, ssk) twice,
k5, (k2tog, yo) twice, k4] to end of
rnd. Rnd 28: Knit. Rnd 29: [K4, (yo, ssk) twice,
k3, (k2tog, yo) twice, k5] to end of
rnd. Rnd 30: Knit. Rnd 31: [K1, yo, ssk, k2,
(yo, ssk) twice, k1, (k2tog, yo) twice,
k2, k2tog, yo, k2] to end of rnd. Rnd 32: Knit. Rnd 33: [K2, yo, ssk, k2,
yo, ssk, yo,sk2po, yo, k2tog, yo, k2,
k2tog, yo, k3] to end of rnd. Rnd 34: Knit. Rnd 35: [K1, (yo, ssk) twice,
k4, nupp, k4, (k2tog, yo) twice, k2]
to end of rnd. Rnd 36: [K9, k5tog, k10] to
end of rnd.
Edging Pattern 2
Worked over a multiple of 20 sts. Rnd 1: [Ssk, p2, k1, yo, k9, yo, k1, p2, k2tog, k1]
to end of rnd. Rnd 2: [Ssk, p1, k2, p1, yo,
k7, yo, p1, k2, p1, k2tog, k1] to end
of rnd. Rnd 3: [Ssk, k2, p2, k1, yo,
k5, yo, k1, p2, k2, k2tog, k1] to end
of rnd. Rnd 4: [Ssk, k1, p2, k2, p1,
yo, k3, yo, p1, k2, p2, k1, k2tog,
k1] to end of rnd. Rnd 5: [Ssk, p2, k2, p2, (k1,
yo) twice, k1, p2, k2, p2, k2tog, k1]
to end of rnd.
Charts The charts for this pattern are very large
and fit on a letter-sized page.
Click here and print the resulting
page.
DIRECTIONS
Cowl
CO 120 sts, place marker and join to work in the round, being careful not
to twist.
Work Rnds 1-5 of Edging Pattern 1 once, using written or charted
instructions as you prefer.
Work Rnds 1-36 of Lace Pattern twice, or as many times as desired,
using written or charted instructions as you prefer.
Work Rnds 1-5 of Edging Pattern 2 once, using written or charted
instructions as you prefer.
Bind off as follows:
K1, *k1, sl 2 sts back to LH needle and
k2tog] until 1 st rem. Cut yarn and draw through final
st.
FINISHING
Block cowl, opening up lace pattern and exaggerating scallops
for edging. Weave in ends.
ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Ashley is an American ex-pat who designs,
edits, writes, cycles, and knits from a
bungalow in a beautiful, sheep-filled corner
of Wales.
Find
her on Ravelry as Wonk, or her designer
profile here.
