Issue 223 – Diamond Shawl in Silky Alpaca Lace & Pirouette

Some of the most spectacular knitted pieces are not spectacular because of their clever design but because of the combination of design and yarn. This week's pattern is not an especially innovative design - a basic triangular shawl using two easy to memorize eyelet stitches. But, what makes it unique is the yarn - or I should say yarns: one strand of soft and slinky Silky Alpaca Lace handpaint knit together with one strand of ethereal lace weight mohair Pirouette.

I love how these yarns compliment each other when knit together as one strand. The Pirouette seemingly disappears and leaves just its halo, allowing the colors of Silky Alpaca Lace to shine through. The color of Pirouette is changed when you change stitch patterns for added interest. This pattern would be lovely in either yarn used alone but becomes even more special when the yarns combine

Susan

View Susan's designs on Ravelry

(file size: 2 MB; published December 27, 2011)

If you have difficulty with the PDF, try these: page 1 – page 2 – page 2

The Yarn:

Pirouette
67% kid mohair • 25% bamboo • 8% nylon

Pirouette is a delicate mohair and bamboo blend, available in twenty distinct colors. At 246 yards per ball, this is an incredibly beautiful and affordable alternative to mohair-silk blends. The gauge is versatile, making this just as airy and beautiful on a US3 or a US8. Garments knit in Pirouette make great use of this versatility, featuring pieces knit with one, two or even three strands held together for dramatically different looks.

Silky Alpaca Lace
70% alpaca • 30% silk

Silky Alpaca Lace is a beautiful blend of fibers, spun into a gossamer yarn that knits into amazing lightweight pieces. The alpaca in this yarn provides warmth and a soft halo, the silk adds a subtle sheen to the knitted stitches. Worked in lace with larger needles, Silky Alpaca Lace makes lovely, light-as-air shawls, garments and accessories.

You might also like:

This free pattern from Cynthia Parker of Handheld Knitting in Fayetteville, Arkansas uses Silky Alpaca Lace in a truly unique way...The Les Miserables shawl is a lightly felted shawl with seemingly random dropped stitches, meant to look like the bedraggled scarf of a French Revolutionary. In the words of the designer,"The piece has a soft and elegant drape, and will make you the prettiest French pauper around."

We decided to feature this free pattern because, not only does it look interesting, hip, and fun to knit, but felted Silky Alpaca Lace isn't something we see every day!

Click here to download the Les Miserables shawl today.