by Michaela Moores

Leaf lace has never been more popular. The curved shapes are quick and easy to execute and the effect is striking. But not all leaves are round. Some are pointed, spiny, or completely irregular! In almost every culture in the world the oak tree stands tall as a symbol of strength and stability, but the distinctive oak leaf shape is almost completely absent from our knitting dictionary.

In England, school children are taught of the famous Boscobel Oak, a massive tree celebrated for saving the life of the future King Charles the Second, having hid him from the Roundhead army during the English Civil War.

I wanted to make a powerful piece of lace to celebrate this part of my culture, and developed this completely new stitch pattern mixed with a nearly triangular shawl construction to best frame the work.  A simple 6 row edging generates acorn shaped buds around the hem of the shawl, completing this decadent theme.

The yarn used is 100% Shetland Wool cobweb weight single. Spinning laceweight singles was, for me, the holy grail of spinning, but ultimately was much less challenging than I had expected. A long rest period on the bobbin helped to set the twist, and the fine crimpy fibers made Shetland a great beginner fiber.

SIZE
One

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

MATERIALS
Fiber:
Hedgehog Equipment [100% Shetland Wool; Top] Undyed (Dark); 2 ounces
Note: this version shown in all photographs except the last one


Finished Yarn:
Wraps per inch: 55 [editor's note: yes, really.]
Ply: Single
Yardage used: 375yds

	Spinning Tool: Ashford Traditional [scotch tension] Niddy Noddy: Ashford, 75cm

Drafting Method:
Short forward draw, worsted style.

Commercial Yarn Alternative
Sweet Georgia Silk Crush [50% Superwash Merino Wool, 50% Silk; 375 yd/343m per 115g skein]; gray; Tumbled Stone; 1 skein
Note: this version is shown in the very last photograph below

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
US 4/3.5mm needles

Tools
yarn needle
US E-4/3.5mm crochet hook
12"/30cm waste yarn

GAUGE

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

Crochet provisional cast on instructions can be found here.

CDD: Sl2 as if to k2tog, k1, pass sl sts over.

Charts
The charts for this pattern are very large. Each fits on a letter-sized page.
Click below and print each resulting page. Assemble Chart A.

Chart A, left side • Chart A, right side • Chart B

DIRECTIONS

Rows 1-6: Sl 1 wyif, k to end.

At the end of the row, 6 turn the work 90 degrees. Work along the first edge of the strip as follows: [yo, pick up and knit 1 stitch] 3 times, yo; unzip the provisional cast on and knit across the 4 stitches generated. 15 sts.

Row 7 [WS]: Sl 1 wyif, k3, pm, p3, pm, p1, pm, p3, pm, k4.

Body - handspun/plain version
Row 1 [RS]: Sl 1 wyif, k3, slip marker, yo, knit to second marker, yo, slip marker, k1, slip marker, yo, knit to fourth marker, yo, slip marker, k4.

Row 2 [WS]: Sl 1 wyif, k3, p to last 4 sts, k4.

Repeat Rows 1-2 until you have 199 sts total.

Next row [RS]: Sl 1 wyif, k3, slip marker, yo, work Chart A row 41 to second marker, yo, slip marker, k1, slip marker, yo, work Chart A row 41 to fourth marker, yo, slip marker, k4.

Following row [WS]: Sl 1 wyif, p to last 4 sts, k4.

Work as set until row 74 of Chart A is complete, repeating the section in the red box as required. 277 sts.

Body - commercial yarn/patterned version
Row 1 [RS]: Sl 1 wyif, k3, slip marker, yo, work Chart A row 1 to second marker, yo, slip marker, k1, slip marker, yo, work Chart A row 1 to fourth marker, yo, slip marker, k4.

Row 2 [WS]: Sl 1 wyif, k3, p to last 4 sts, k4.

Work as set until row 74 of Chart A is complete [179 sts], then work rows 31-74 again, repeating the section in the red box as required. 275 sts.

Edging [both versions]:
Row 1 [RS]: Sl 1 wyif, k3, slip marker, yo, work Chart B row 1 to second marker, repeating sts in red box as required, yo, slip marker, k1, slip marker, yo, work Chart B row 1 to fourth marker, yo, slip marker, k4.

Row 2 [WS]: Sl 1 wyif, k3, p to last 4 sts, k4.

Work as set until all 6 rows of the chart are complete. 287 sts.

Bind off loosely as follows:
K2, *slip both sts back to LH needle, k2togtbl, k1; rep from * to end, slip both sts back to LH needle, k2togtbl and secure.

FINISHING
Wet block to the dimensions detailed above. Points are generated by pinning through the centre stitch of each small stockinette triangle of the edging, evenly spaced between the acorn motifs. The shawl is slightly crescent shaped, and may be blocked as either a triangle or crescent depending upon the knitter’s preference. Weave in ends.

 Michaela Moores is an emerging London-based designer, inspired by the city around her, including its vibrant high-fashion industry, cultural variety, and epic history.

 You can find out more on her website.