I love finding a single skein of fingering yarn that is special, one with substantial yardage and an element that really makes it shine. I bought this skein of yarn because it looked so ethereal. The stellina running through it was reminiscent of a sky full of stars and the color reminded me of twilight. I wanted to do it justice with a stellar (please pardon the pun!) pattern. I decided to go with an almost starlike repeat with the addition of some shiny beads to really make this shawl twinkle. I used beads that are close in color to the yarn but you can get creative and even make the beads contrast to really make them pop!
Having worked with beads a handful of times before I wanted this pattern to be simple enough for a beading novice to enjoy without any frustrations, yet intriguing enough to keep a more advanced knitter interested. To acheive this I decided that the beads would be placed while the knitting is taking place, this means no pre-stringing required! It’s a great technique to take a rest from the constant knitting and there are several rows with no beads, great for a break or to tune back into your favorite TV show!
I highly recommend using beads that are smooth inside. Try them out and see if they slide smoothly on the yarn, they have to fit with the crochet hook (or dental floss threader) and the yarn running through them. If you’re asking how I know this well… I bought some beads and I was doing fine at first but they weren’t all the same diameter inside, so one got slightly stuck and I got slightly frustrated and yanked it so hard I actually ripped the yarn. It gets a bit better, I couldn’t even felt the ends together because they were too short so I got a little creative and glued them together. Learn from my mistake! Please stop cringing, find an amazing fingering skein, and let the knitting begin!
MATERIALS
Yarn Anzula Nebula [84% Superwash Merino, 16% Sparkling Stellina; 400 yd/365 m per 100g skein]; color: Nimbus; 1 skein
Recommended needle size [always use a needle
size that gives you the gauge
listed below — every knitter's
gauge is unique] 1 40-inch US 5/3.75mm circular needle 1 size 0.7 mm crochet hook
Garter Tab: Cast on 2 sts.
Knit 6 rows. Do not turn at end of last row.
Rotate piece 90 degrees and pick up and knit 3 sts along long side of garter strip.
Rotate piece 90 degrees and pick up and knit 2 sts in cast on edge. 7 sts.
From here, the first and last 2 sts are worked in garter stitch, the center st in stockinette stitch, and the chart is worked twice, between the markers.
Note: Because it’s a large chart, we’ve broken it up into smaller pieces. Work the charts in the following order: Chart 1, Chart 2, Chart 3, Chart 4. When working Chart 3, you will work the repeat in the red box three times, and when working Chart 4, you will work the repeat in the blue box five times.
Next row, establish chart [RS]: K2, sm, work chart to center st, sm, k1, sm, work chart to last 2 sts, sm, k2. Following row [WS]: K2, sm, work chart to center st, sm, k1, sm, work chart to last 2 sts, sm, k2.
Continue as set until all charts are complete. 263 sts.
Bind off as follows: K1, *place bead on just-worked st, [k1, sl 2 sts back to left needle, k2togtbl] three times, rep from * to end. After knitting last st place a bead on it, cut yarn and thread through loop, pull to tighten.
FINISHING
Block and weave in ends.
ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Kalliopi Aronis lives in the bustling city of New York. After teaching herself to knit, she became completely obsessed and ended up with a china cabinet full of yarn and one exasperated mother. A fan of intricate patterns, lace has become a new technique to add to her designs.
