Trinary, a free pattern from Knitty.com. Free knitting, crochet and tunisian crochet pattern for a colorblocked lace shawl.

INTRODUCTION

Trinary

beauty shotby

Tangy

 

Trinary is a joyful celebration of three crafts and their interplay in lace.

In this unusual stole, a lace ripple flows gracefully through knit, crochet and Tunisian crochet. Stripes at the short edges and bias shaping add zing and flair, but are deceptively easy to work. Each section of the stole body looks subtly and intriguingly different from the one before, although the stitches are the same; this is achieved by simply changing the yarn color for a particular technique.

My inspiration for this design comes interestingly, from Knitty itself. Looking at the Knitty webpage one day, my eye fell on a little box containing the words "knit + crochet". I was reminded that I've always wanted to design in lace using both knit and crochet. Then, I thought it might be exciting to add Tunisian to the mix! The idea became a bit of an obsession when I did a search on Ravelry and discovered that as on date, there is no published single pattern that incorporates all three crafts in a lace fabric. Trinary is the result of my adventure.

The pattern has been written and charted to be easily approachable and uses just a couple of stitches from each craft. Whether you're a knitter who knows just to sc and dc or a crocheter or TC-er who knows just to knit and purl, this project is fun. Wrong side rows have no patterning or shaping (except for one stripe row) and the pattern repeat is easily remembered, making it a relaxing project.

spacer model: Amrita R

spacer photos: Padma R

SIZE

One size (adjustable)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Width: 16 inches/40.5cm, measured straight across
Length: 82 inches/208cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
Eden Cottage Yarns Keld Fingering [90% Merino, 10% Linen/Flax; 394yds/360m per 100g skein]
spacer [A] Ash; 1 skein
spacer [B] Dianthus; 1 skein
spacer [C] Daffodil; 1 skein

Yarn Characteristics
Keld Fingering is a blend of superwash merino and linen which has both softness and excellent stitch definition. It is a slightly uneven yarn with linen fibers providing a little fluff and texture. A solid or nearly-solid color is most effective to show off the pattern stitches and texture.

Recommended needle/hook size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
spacer US #6 /4mm 24 inch/60 cm or longer circular needle
spacer A single US #8/5mm needle for bind off only
spacer One US #7/4.5mm crochet hook
spacer One US #K-10.5/ 6.5mm cabled Tunisian crochet hook (or straight Tunisian hook to fit 94 stitches]

Notions
spacer ring stitch markers (for knitting)
spacer locking stitch markers (for crochet and Tunisian crochet)
spacer yarn needle

GAUGE

18 sts/24 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in Knit pattern.
12 sts/19 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in Crochet pattern.
20 sts/20 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in Tunisian crochet pattern.
Note: measure gauge after blocking and relaxing. Gauge is not critical but will affect finished size.

To work a gauge swatch: work 2 repeats of Body pattern (marked in bold in instructions) with edge sts (40 sts) and without increase and decrease sections, repeating the following rows for about 4 inches height, making separate swatches for knit, crochet and TC:

PATTERN NOTES

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

Editor's note: There's a lot to read here, but it's all really important. Please do go through this before beginning the pattern.

Stitch markers are helpful to separate increase and decrease sections from pattern repeats, to mark off repeats and to keep correct stitch count. Move markers upwards into the next row as you work it.

Carrying yarns up the right edge:

To Adjust or Customize:

NOTES ON WORKING FROM CHARTS

SPECIAL STITCHES

CHARTS

Download chart here

DIRECTIONS

With A and 4mm needle, use the crochet* method to CO 94 sts.
*Note: The crochet method is not mandatory. The cable CO will also provide a similarly firm result.

Note: 4mm needle is used throughout, larger needle is only used for bind off.

Work pattern from written instructions or charts. For transition rows between knit, crochet and TC, please refer to Special stitches in Pattern Notes for detailed information.

Starting Section
With A:
Row 1 [RS]: K2, m1, k to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2.
Row 2 [WS]: Knit.
Repeat Rows 1-2 two more times.

Join B.

Crochet – change to hook:
Row 7 [RS] With B, make a slipknot and place on crochet hook. Insert hook from left to right into first edge st, pull a loop through both stitch and slipknot to secure, ch1 (counts as first edge st now and throughout), sc in next st, 2sc-in-1, sc to last 4 sts, sc2tog, 2sc, completing last st with C. 94 sts.
Row 8 [WS]: With C, ch1, sk sc below, sc in next st and to end of row, completing last sc with A.

Tunisian Crochet – change to Tunisian hook:
Row 9 [RS] Transfer loop of A to Tunisian hook (first ES), continue with A, TSS in next sc, 2TSS-in-sc, TSS to last 4 sts, TSS2tog, TSS, ES. 94 sts.
Row 10 [RS]: With A, RetP, completing last st with C.

Knit – change to needles:
Row 11 [RS]: Place loop of C on needle – this is the first st of the row. Pick up and knit 1 st, m1, pick up and knit a stitch in each TSS to the last 3 sts, insert needle into next 2 TSS together and pick up a st, pick up a stitch in ES. 94 sts.
Row 12 [WS]: Knit.
Row 13 [RS]: K2, m1, k to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2.

Crochet – change to hook:
Row 14 [WS] With B and crochet hook, pull up a loop in first st, ch1, sc to end of row, completing last st with A. 94 sts.

Tunisian Crochet – change to Tunisian hook:
Row 15 [RS]: FwdP: Transfer loop of A to Tunisian hook (first ES), and continue with A, TSS in next, 2TSS-in-sc, TSS to last 4 sts, TSS2tog, TSS, ES. 94 sts.
Row 16 [RS]: With A, RetP, completing last st with B.

Knit – change to needles:
Row 17 [RS]: Place loop of B on needle – this is the first st of the row. Pick up and knit 1 st, m1, pick up and knit a stitch in each TSS to the last 3 sts, insert needle into next 2 TSS together and pick up a st, pick up a stitch in ES. 94 sts.
Row 18 [WS]: With C, knit. Do not turn work. Slide sts to other tip of circular needle.
Row 19 [WS]: With B, K2, k2tog, k to last 2 sts, m1, k2.

Body
Working from chart or written instruction as you prefer, work Rows 1-72 four times in total, using the colors as follows:

First Set: Use A for all Knit rows, B for all Crochet rows, C for all Tunisian crochet rows.
Second Set: Use C for all Knit rows, A for all Crochet rows, B for all Tunisian crochet rows.
Third Set: Use B for all Knit rows, C for all Crochet rows, A for all Tunisian crochet rows.
Fourth Set: Use A for all Knit rows, B for all Crochet rows, C for all Tunisian crochet rows.
At the end of the Fourth Set, cut yarn C.

Body Pattern
Knit:
Row 1 [RS]: K2, m1, [k2tog 3 times, (yo, k1) 6 times, k2tog 3 times] 4 times, k2tog 3 times, (yo, k1) 5 times, k1, k2tog 3 times, k2.
Row 2 [WS]: K2, p to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 3: K2, m1, k to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2.
Row 4: Knit.
Row 5: K2, m1, k2, [k2tog 3 times, (yo, k1) 6 times, k2tog 3 times] 4 times, (yo, k1) 4 times, k2, k2tog twice, k2.
Rows 6-8: Repeat Rows 2-4.
Row 9: K2, m1, k4, [k2tog 3 times, (yo, k1) 6 times, k2tog 3 times] 4 times, k2tog 3 times, (yo, k1) 4 times, k2tog twice, k2.
Rows 10-12: Repeat Rows 2-4.
Row 13: K2, m1, k1, yo, k3, k2tog, [k2tog 3 times, (yo, k1) 6 times, k2tog 3 times] 4 times, k2tog 3 times, (yo, k1) 3 times, k1. k2tog, k2.
Rows 14-16: Repeat Rows 2-4.
Row 17: K2, m1, k1, (yo, k1) twice, k1, k2tog twice, [k2tog 3 times, (yo, k1) 6 times, k2tog 3 times] 4 times, k2tog twice, k1, (yo, k1) twice, k1, k2tog, k2.
Rows 18-20: Repeat Rows 2-4.
Row 21: K2, m1, k1, (yo, k1) 3 times, k2tog 3 times, [k2tog 3 times, (yo, k1) 6 times, k2tog 3 times] 4 times, k2tog, k2, yo, k2, k2tog, k2.
Rows 21-24: Repeat Rows 2-4.

Crochet – change to hook:
Row 25 [RS]: Pull up a loop in first st, ch2, dc, 2dc-in-1, 2dc, 2dc-in-1 3 times, dc2tog 3 times [dc2tog 3 times, 2dc-in-1 6 times, dc2tog 3 times] 4 times, 4dc, dc2tog, 2dc. 94 sts.
Row 26 [WS]: Ch1, sc to end of row, completing last st with next color.

Tunisian Crochet – change to Tunisian hook:
Row 27 [RS] Transfer loop to Tunisian hook (first ES), TSS, 2TSS-in-sc, TSS2tog, [yo, TSS] 4 times, TSS2tog 3 times, [TSS2tog 3 times (yo, TSS) 6 times, TSS2tog 3 times] 4 times, 3TSS, TSS2tog, TSS, ES. 94 sts.
Row 28 and all even-numbered rows to Row 44 [RS]: RetP.
Row 29: ES, TSS, TSS-inc, TSS2tog, TSS, [yo, TSS] 4 times, TSS2tog 3 times, [TSS2tog, TSS2tog twice, (yo, TSS) 6 times, TSS2tog 3 times] 4 times, 2TSS, TSS2tog, TSS, ES.
Row 31: ES, TSS, TSS-inc, TSS2tog, 2TSS, [yo, TSS] 4 times, TSS2tog 3 times, [TSS2tog 3 times, (yo, TSS) 6 times, TSS2tog 3 times] 4 times, TSS, TSS2tog, TSS, ES.
Row 33: ES, TSS, TSS-inc, TSS2tog twice, [yo, TSS] 5 times, TSS2tog 3 times, [TSS2tog 3 times, (yo, TSS) 6 times, TSS2tog 3 times] 4 times, TSS2tog, TSS, ES.
Row 35: ES, TSS, TSS-inc, TSS2tog twice, TSS, [yo, TSS] 5 times, TSS2tog 3 times, [TSS2tog 3 times, (yo, TSS) 6 times, TSS2tog 3 times] 4 times, TSS, ES.
Row 37: ES, TSS, (TSS tbl, TSS2tog), TSS2tog 2 times, [yo, TSS] 6 times, TSS2tog 3 times, [TSS2tog 3 times, [yo, TSS] 6 times, TSS2tog 3 times] 3 times, TSS2tog 3 times, [yo, TSS] 5 times, TSS, TSS2tog 3 times, TSS, ES.
Row 39: ES, TSS, TSS-inc, [TSS2tog 3 times, (yo, TSS) 6 times, TSS2tog 3 times] 4 times, TSS2tog 3 times, [yo, TSS] 5 times, TSS2tog 3 times, TSS, ES.
Row 41: ES, TSS, TSS-inc, TSS, [TSS2tog 3 times, (yo, TSS) 6 times, TSS2tog 3 times] 4 times, TSS2tog 3 times, [yo, TSS] 4 times, 2TSS, TSS2tog twice, TSS, ES.
Row 43: ES, TSS, TSS-inc, 2TSS, [TSS2tog 3 times, (yo, TSS) 6 times, TSS2tog 3 times] 4 times, TSS2tog 3 times, [yo, TSS] 4 times, TSS, TSS2tog twice, TSS, ES.
Row 45: ES, TSS, TSS-inc, 3TSS, [TSS2tog 3 times, (yo, TSS) 6 times, TSS2tog 3 times] 4 times, TSS2tog 3 times, [yo, TSS] 4 times, TSS2tog twice, TSS, ES.
Row 46 [RS]: RetP, completing last st with next color.

Knit – change to needles:
Row 47 [RS]: Transfer loop to needle – this is the first st of the row. Pick up and knit 1 st, m1, pick up and knit a stitch in each TSS to the last 3 sts, insert needle into next 2 TSS together and pick up a st, pick up a stitch in ES. 94 sts.
Row 48 [WS]: Knit.
Row 49: K2, m1, k1, yo, k3, k2tog, [k2tog 3 times, (yo, k1) 6 times, k2tog 3 times] 4 times, k2tog 3 times, (yo, k1) 3 times, k1, k2tog, k2.
Row 50: K2, p to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 51: K2, m1, k to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2.
Row 52: Knit.

Crochet – change to hook, join required color:
Row 53 [RS]: Pull up a loop in first st, ch2, dc, 2dc-in-1, dc, 2dc-in-1 twice, dc2tog twice, [dc2tog, dc2tog twice, 2dc-in-1 6 times, dc2tog 3 times] 4 times, dc2tog twice, 2dc-in-1 twice, 2dc, dc2tog, 2dc. 94 sts.
Rows 54, 56, 58 & 60 [WS]: Ch1, sc to end of row.
Row 55 [RS]: Ch2, dc, 2dc-in-1, 2dc, 2dc-in-1 twice, dc2tog twice, [dc2tog, dc2tog twice, 2dc-in-1 6 times, dc2tog 3 times] 4 times, dc2tog twice, 2dc-in-1 twice, dc, dc2tog, 2dc.
Row 57 [RS]: Ch2, dc, 2dc-in-1 4 times, dc2tog 3 times, [dc2tog, dc2tog twice, 2dc-in-1 6 times, dc2tog 3 times] 4 times, dc2tog twice, 2dc-in-1 twice, dc2tog, 2dc.
Row 59 [RS]: Ch2, dc, 2dc-in-1, dc, 2dc-in-1 3 times, dc2tog 3 times, [dc2tog, dc2tog twice, 2dc-in-1 6 times, dc2tog 3 times] 4 times, dc2tog, 2dc-in-1, 2dc, dc2tog, 2dc, completing last dc with next color.

Tunisian Crochet – change to Tunisian hook:
Row 61 [RS]: Transfer loop to Tunisian hook (first ES), TSS, 2TSS-in-sc, 2TSS, [yo, TSS] 3 times, TSS2tog 3 times, [TSS2tog 3 times, (yo, TSS) 6 times, TSS2tog 3 times] 4 times, TSS2tog, yo, 2TSS, TSS2tog, TSS, ES. 94 sts.
Row 62 [RS]: RetP.
Row 63 [RS]: ES, TSS, TSS-inc, TSS2tog, [yo, TSS] 4 times, TSS2tog 3 times, [TSS2tog 3 times, (yo, TSS) 6 times, TSS2tog 3 times] 4 times, TSS2tog, yo, TSS, TSS2tog, TSS, ES.
Row 64 [RS]: RetP, completing last st with next color.

Knit – change to needles:
Row 65 [RS]: Transfer loop to needle – this is the first st of the row. Pick up and knit 1 st, m1, pick up and knit a stitch in each TSS to the last 3 sts, insert needle into next 2 TSS together and pick up a st, pick up a stitch in ES. 94 sts.
Row 66 [WS]: Knit.
Row 67: K2, m1, k2tog twice, (yo, k1) 5 times, k2tog 3 times, [k2tog 3 times, (yo, k1) 6 times, k2tog 3 times] 4 times, k1, k2tog, k2.
Row 68: K2, p to last 2 sts, k2.

Crochet – change to hook, join required color:
Row 69 [RS] With next color and crochet hook, pull up a loop in the first st, ch2, dc, 2dc-in-1, dc2tog twice, 2dc-in-1 5 times, dc2tog 3 times, [dc2tog, dc2tog twice, 2dc-in-1 6 times, dc2tog 3 times] 4 times, dc2tog, 2dc. 94 sts.
Row 70 [WS]: Ch1, sc to end of row, completing last st with next color

Knit – change to needles:
Row 71 [RS]: Transfer loop to needle – this is the first st of the row. Pick up and knit 1 st, m1, pick up and knit a stitch in each sc to the last 3 sts, sk next st, pick up and knit in each of last 2 sts. 94 sts.
Row 72 [WS]: Knit.

Ending Section
Row 1 [RS]: With B, k2, m1, k to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2.
Row 2 [WS]: Attach C, knit.

Tunisian Crochet – change to Tunisian hook:
Row 3 [RS] With A and Tunisian hook, pull up a loop in first st (ES), and in each knit st (see Special stitches) as follows: TSS, TSS-inc, TSS to last 4 sts, TSS2tog, TSS, ES. 94 sts.
Row 4 [RS]: RetP, completing last st with C.

Knit – change to needles:
Row 5 [RS]: Transfer loop of C to needle – this is the first st of the row. Pick up and knit 1 st, m1, pick up and knit a stitch in each TSS to the last 3 sts, insert needle into next 2 TSS together and pick up a st, pick up a stitch in last TSS. 94 sts.
Row 6 [WS]: Knit.
Row 7 [RS]: K2, m1, k to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2.

Crochet – change to hook:
Row 8 [WS]: With B, pull up a loop in first st, ch1, sc to end of row, completing last st with A. 94 sts.

Tunisian Crochet – change to Tunisian hook:
Row 9 [RS]: Transfer loop of A to Tunisian hook (first ES), TSS, 2TSS-in-sc, TSS to last 4 sts, TSS2tog, TSS, ES. 94 sts.
Row 10 [RS]: RetP, completing last st with B.

Crochet – change to hook:
Row 11 [RS] Transfer loop of B to crochet hook, ch1, sc in next st, 2sc-in-1, sc to last 2 sts, sc2tog, 2sc, completing last st with C. 94 sts.
Row 12 [WS]: With C, ch1, sc to end of row, completing last st with A.

Knit – change to needles:
Row 13 [RS] Transfer loop of A to needle – this is the first st of the row. Pick up and knit 1 st, m1, pick up and knit a stitch in each sc to the last 3 sts, sk next st, pick up and knit in each of last 2 sts. 94 sts.
Row 14 [WS]: Knit.
Row 15: K2, m1, k to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2.
Row 16: Knit.
Repeat the last 2 rows once more.

Bind off in the standard way, using the larger needle to work the stitches as you go.

FINISHING

Handwash carefully: stretch and pin stole to dry, placing blocking wires through the long edges first. Weave in ends.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

designernamePadma R lives in Mumbai. She likes to switch between her needles and hooks – it helps to prevent hand strain too! She's thrilled that this time, she got to do it within the same project, and is particularly gratified that it turned out to be lace.

Find her on Ravelry as Padma R designs and on Instagram.

 

Pattern & images © 2021 Padma R