Playing with yarn again last night - what else? I was looking through lace stitch patterns with the idea of putting a few of them together when I ran across the old Chinese Waves dishcloth stitch pattern:
Odd number of stitches
Row 1: K1, *sl1, K1; repeat from *.
Row 2: Knit.
Row 3: K2, *sl1, K1; repeat from * until two stitches remain, K2.
Row 4: Knit.
It doesn’t look anything like garter stitch but it’s a very simple garter stitch variant where you’re just slipping every other stitch. The yarn, as you bring it past the slipped stitch to knit the next one creates a little curve to span the distance - hence the wave part of the name. (Why they are Chinese waves and not Argentinean waves or Icelandic waves, I couldn’t guess!)
And I got to thinking about how to work this the way many shawls are worked - from the point up? And believe it or not, it’s even easier than the stitch pattern above. You don’t have to worry about staggering the stitches because the increases take care of that for you.
Set up rows
Cast on 1 stitch.
Row 1: K1, yo, K1 all in the one stitch. (3 stitches)
Row 2: Knit across.
Row 3: K1, yo, K1, yo, K1. (5 stitches)
Row 4: Knit.
Pattern Rows
Row 5: K1, yo, K1, *sl1, K1*, yo, K1.
Row 6: Knit.
Repeat rows 5 and 6 for the pattern. That’s all there is to it.
Because it’s basically garter stitch, it makes a nice, flat fabric with no curl and the slipped stitches provide a bit more density, a bit less stretch and a completely different look. It also goes quickly because on every wrong-side row, you’re slipping half the stitches instead of knitting them :)
Worsted weight yarn, size 10.5 US (6.5mm) needles
This yarn is Red Heart acrylic worsted weight. I chose the big needles because of the stitch pattern’s inclination towards density with the hope of loosening things up a bit. This works but I suspect that even larger needles could be used to good effect. This would make a nice, warm shawl.
Lace weight yarn, size 6 US (4mm) needles
This yarn is KnitPicks Shadow, merino lace weight and at this scale, the effect is completely different. While this is not an orthodox lace pattern, a lacy fabric is produced. It reminds me of chain mail (the assemblage of which is also referred to as knitting (scroll down to Manufacture).
I’d call this lace :)
While the worsted weight sample isn’t anything like lace, the lace weight sample (being done on a much larger needle - proportionally speaking to the weight of the yarn) does take on a lacey aspect which I think is very pretty :)
Now - what can I do with this? - Muwhahahahaha :)
Last week, I got up one morning and noticed (while I was making my coffee - first things first, after all!) that there was a metal disk lying on the porch roof under the kitchen window. It wasn’t close enough to identify (assuming it was anything I could identify in the first place!) so it wasn’t until Myria went out and got it that we could see what it was:
Eisenhower silver dollar, bicentennial version
This sucker is heavy! It’s a little beat up, but perfectly recognizable and, presumably, perfectly spendable. The question is, how the hell did it get there?
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That certainly looks lacey to me! Very nice - it should be light and airy but still have a bit of weight.
EEP!! You have invented the first lace shawl I am actually brave enough to attempt!! I have 4 balls of KnitPicks laceweight and some free size 6’s. I might just have to go cast on after lunch :-)
I call it lace! Looks very simple and elegant.
Kathy - I was wondering about the weight thing - this isn’t cobweb yarn, after all. But a little weight’s a good thing. Now the worsted weight version would weigh a ton - then again, that might be just the thing for a cold climate!
Hi Ma :) - It’s super simple - go for it! And post a picture when you’ve got a bit so we can all come see it!
Thanks Margene - It’s not Shetland, but then I don’t think it needs to be :)
Lace is in the eye of the beholder?
Maybe the faeries left the half dollar for you? (the pixies with wings, not the fabulous gay folk. Though I do love both of them.)
Christina - Well, that would be interesting :) I wonder why they would single us out for the honor!
Looks great! I’m going to try this for a snuggle for my local animal shelter. (http://www.h4ha.org) I’ll let you know how it works out.
Elizabeth - Terriffic idea! Post a picture so we can see :)
Hmmmm…dropped from a passing plane? Hang-glider? But the Faery idea sounds better to me. :)
Very lacy indeed. I like the honeycomb effect. The little pockets remind me of a thermal blanket in the heavier yarn. Hmmm…I wonder if the stitch could be used for something snuggly for Dulaan????
Bron - Heheh - “Dropped from a plane” was Myria’s offering too :)
You’re right about the thermal blanket, /i hadn’t thought of that. Hmmm…I know a crochet stitch (also built on the diagonal) that also puts me in mind of thermal blankets.
...er…aha!
Ch 2
Row 1: Sc, dc, sc in second chain from hook; ch1 turn.
Row 2: Hdc, dc in first sc; dc in next sc, dc, hdc in last stitch; ch1, turn.
Row 3: Hdc, dc in first sc, *sc in next stitch, dc in next stitch; repeat from * across, dc, hdc in last stitch.
Repeat row 3 for desired size.
This is also quite pretty and also should be worked on a hook quite a bit larger than you’d ordinarily use for your chosen yarn. The fabric gets too dense and too tight otherwise.
That is a great stitch. I have made a few of the dishclothes and they wear well. I like the looks for a shawl.Very interesting about the colin….hmmmmmm.
Maureen - I remember running into it when I was first learning and I thought it was the rat’s behind because it produced such a nice looking fabric for a truly minimal amount of work! Of course I promptly forgot about it until last night :)
As to the silver dollar. Something so bright and shiny would be attractive to a crow or raven. As you said it’s heavy and so it may have been dropped or left behind. Perhaps if you put it back out your “gifter” may return :)
Hi Alice - I was aware of the propensity of crows and ravens (and we have plenty of both in the area) for bright, shiny things. I guess I had assumed that the slver dollar would be too heavy/slippery to carry. But maybe not…
(slightly evil thought) - Maybe I could glue it down to the porch roof and see what the birds make of that? Heheh…
Woot~ looking good as usual.
Elka - Thanks!
