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mesillaanatoliaungranny smitht-twistjameseyjardin anglais
exchequeredtendrilsnagano sakuraconvertibletopireid
double scoop
tiny tether
pedicure sockshederanautie
blossomkatjafelted tea cosy

Tendrils brings to mind the first tender shoots that appear in Spring. The lace makes it look light and open, but in actuality the stole is quite substantial because of the beaded cables that run up and down its length. This combination gives the piece a sensual quality.

The beading technique is very easy: the beads are simply left to rest between stitches. However, if desired, or if the knitter is a bit awed by the sheer number of beads, the stole could be knit without beads for an entirely different look.

The yarn is strong and equal to the task of holding up the weight of the beads, while very soft and nice to touch. Any substitute yarn should ideally have these same qualities.

model: Wendy Lane [top], Jackie Blackmore [below] photos: Paulette Lane [top], Sivia Harding [below]

SIZE
One
 
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Length: 80 inches
Width: 20 inches

 

MATERIALS

Louet Gems Amethyst (100% wool, 175 yds/157m per 100g skein); color: Clover; 5 skeins

1 set US #8/5 mm needles
1940 seed beads, silver lined crystal, size 4/0
[Note: Always buy more beads than you think you will need]
Dental floss threader or big-eye beading needle
Cable needle
Tapestry needle

GAUGE

19 sts/ 21 rows = 4 inches (unblocked) over stole pattern. Gauge is not critical for this project.

 

PATTERN NOTES

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

1. When working cable crossing rows, it helps to transfer stitches being held on the cable needle back to left needle before working them, as opposed to working them directly from the cable needle. This does add an extra step, but makes slipping the beads between cable stitches much easier and the risk of dropping a stitch much less. Really.

2. Beading technique is easy - just slide bead(s) close to right needle, and continue working. The bead(s) will rest between stitches.

3. When attaching a new ball of yarn, avoid joining at the edges because it will create uneven tension in the twisted selvedges. My favorite alernate method is to overlap the old and new yarn, leaving tails of several inches at the back, and work 2 or 3 stitches with the two yarns together. The tails can be woven in securely later.

4. Beads must be strung onto yarn before knitting. The breakdown of beads per ball of yarn for the sample stole is as follows: Ball 1: 450; Ball 2: 390; Ball 3: 385; Ball 4: 430; Ball 5: 285, for a total of 1940 beads. Your count may be different than mine because of slight yardage variation between balls. Add more beads to the yarn than you think you will need to make sure you have enough. Please do check for knots in each ball of yarn before stringing beads!

Abbreviations
Bx: slide x number of beads up yarn, positioning them close to right needle, between stitches

Kfb: Knit into front, then back, of next st. 1 st increased.

Pfb: Purl into front, then back, of next st. 1 st increased.

Beaded Rib (Worked over 2 sts):
Row 1 [RS]: K1, B2, k1.
Row 2 [WS]: P1, B2, p1

Beaded Wave Cable (Worked over 4 sts):
Rows 1, 3 [RS]: K1, B1, k3.
Rows 2, 4 [WS]: P3, B1, p1.
Row 5 [RS]: Slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold to front of work, k2, then [k1, B1, k1] from stitches held on cable needle.
Rows 6, 8, 10 [WS]: P1, B1, p3.
Rows 7, 9 [RS]: K3, B1, k1.
Row 11 [RS]: Slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold to back of work, k1, B1, k1, then k2 from stitches held on cable needle.
Row 12 [WS]: P3, B1, p1.

Ladder Stitch (Worked over 4 sts):
Row 1 [RS]: SSK, YO twice, k2tog.
Row 2 [WS]: P1, [p1, k1] in double YO from previous row, p1.

Twisted Mini-Cable (Worked over 2 sts):
Row 1 [RS]: Bring right needle in front of first st on left needle and k second st on left needle, k first st on left needle, drop both sts from left needle.
Row 2 [WS]: P2.

DIRECTIONS

Thread 450 seed beads onto the first ball of yarn with dental floss threader or big-eye beading needle. Push beads a few yarns up from the tail end before casting on.

Please see Note #4 in Pattern notes for breakdown of number of beads to string for each ball of yarn.

CO 82 sts.

First Section:
Row 1 [RS]:Work Twisted Mini-Cable over 2 sts, p1, Ladder Stitch over 4 sts, p1, Beaded Rib over 2 sts, p1, [Ladder Stitch over 4 sts, p1, Twisted Mini-Cable over 2 sts, p1, Ladder Stitch over 4 sts, p1, Beaded Rib over 2 sts, p1] 4 times, Ladder Stitch over 4 sts, p1, Twisted Mini-Cable over 2 sts.

Row 2 [WS]: Work in patterns as established, knitting k sts and purling p sts, and stacking slipped beads above the beads in the previous row.

Repeat these 2 rows 7 times more.

Second Section:
Set-up Row 1 [RS]: Work Twisted Mini-Cable over 2 sts, p1, Ladder Stitch over 4 sts, p1, k1, B1, kfb, p1, [Ladder Stitch over 4 sts, p1, Twisted Mini-Cable over 2 sts, p1, Ladder Stitch over 4 sts, p1, k1, B1, kfb, p1] 4 times, Ladder Stitch over 4 sts, p1, Twisted Mini-Cable over 2 sts. 87 sts.

Set-up Row 2 [WS]: P2, k1, p1, [p1, k1] in double YO from previous row, p1, [k1, p1, pfb, B1, p1, k1, p1, [p1, k1] in double YO from previous row, p1, k1, p2, k1, p1, [p1, k1] in double YO from previous row, p1] 4 times, k1, p1, pfb, B1, p1, k1, p1, [p1, k1] in double YO from previous row, p1, k1, p2. 92 sts.

Next Row [RS]: Work Twisted Mini-Cable over 2 sts, p1, Ladder Stitch over 4 sts, p1, Beaded Wave Cable over 4 sts, p1, [Ladder Stitch over 4 sts, p1, Twisted Mini-Cable over 2 sts, p1, Ladder Stitch over 4 sts, p1, Beaded Wave Cable over 4 sts, p1] 4 times, Ladder Stitch over 4 sts, p1, Twisted Mini-Cable over 2 sts.

Continue in patterns as established until work measures approx. 65 inches, ending with Row 10 of beaded Wave Cable pattern.

Third Section:
Set-up Row 1 [RS]: Work Twisted Mini-Cable over 2 sts, p1, Ladder Stitch over 4 sts, p1, k1, k2tog, B1, k1, p1, [Ladder Stitch over 4 sts, p1, Twisted Mini-Cable over 2 sts, p1, Ladder Stitch over 4 sts, p1, k1, k2tog, B1, k1, p1] 4 times, Ladder Stitch over 4 sts, p1, Twisted Mini-Cable over 2 sts. 87 sts.

Set-up Row 2 [WS]: P2, k1, p1, [p1, k1] in double YO from previous row, p1, [k1, p2tog, B1, p1, k1, p1, [p1, k1] in double YO from previous row, p1, k1, p2, k1, p1, [p1, k1] in double YO from previous row, p1] 4 times, k1, p2tog, B1, p1, k1, p1, [p1, k1] in double YO from previous row, p1, k1, p2. 82 sts.

Row 1 [RS]:Work Twisted Mini-Cable over 2 sts, p1, Ladder Stitch over 4 sts, p1, Beaded Rib over 2 sts, p1, [Ladder Stitch over 4 sts, p1, Twisted Mini-Cable over 2 sts, p1, Ladder Stitch over 4 sts, p1, Beaded Rib over 2 sts, p1] 4 times, Ladder Stitch over 4 sts, p1, Twisted Mini-Cable over 2 sts.

Row 2 [WS]: Work in patterns as established.

Repeat these 2 rows 7 times more.

BO all sts loosely.

 
FINISHING

Weave in ends.

Block stole as follows: Wash by immersing in warm water and a small amount of dish detergent or Eucalan. Rinse if necessary.

DO NOT MACHINE WASH as this could remove the lining from beads.

Roll in a towel and press to remove excess water. Pat out on a flat surface to conform to measurements and allow to dry.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Sivia Harding designs knitted jewelry and lace in Vancouver B.C. You can see more of her work here.

She loves knitting with beads!

Sivia would like to thank Ford's Flowers & Nursery, where most of the images for this pattern were photographed.