A little while ago I shared a knitting pattern here (and on Ravelry). That one was a little something fun and easy, called ‘Wavelet on the Bias‘. What has been really lovely is the number of knitting friends who have waved their own versions of the happy little shawl at me when I’ve popped round. It’s been made in all sorts of colours and sizes and lengths. One friend has knitted 7 so far!
This pattern has taken much longer to design and test. It’s more complex, and only for the most adventurous of beginners. But I love it all the more. It is an homage to a dear friend and teacher – Tira Brandon Evans of the Society of Celtic Shamans. The first time I met her, I was fascinated by her long, long hair, and her ability to braid it herself without even looking. We have talked, she and I, of the magic and mythology in hair; in brushing it, cutting it and braiding it. It features in the magic of one of the first stories I ever loved: “The Cat That Walked by Himself“.
And so this pattern is a long, long scarf: light, pretty, and with just a little texture to it. It starts narrow, increases to the middle, and then decreases again. It uses basic lacework knitting skills, cabling and i-cord making. The version I knitted for Tira is in a lightweight handspun (approx. double-knit), spun entirely on a turkish drop-spindle rather than a more modern style wheel. On 4mm needles, this means about 350m of yarn, spun in chanting circles, pagan camps, meetings and long walks of all kinds. The pattern needs thoroughly testing now, so if you think you can handle it, so let me know how it goes!
- Kfb = knit front and back in the same stitch
- Pbf = purl back and front in the same stitch
- Yo = yarn over
- K2tog = knit 2 stitches together
- K3 tog = knit 3 stitches together
- Ssk = slip 2 stitches to the right needle; insert the left needle into the fronts of these two stitches and knit them together (a left leaning decrease)
- Sk2togpsso = slip one stitch to the right, knit the next two together, slip the first stitch over the stitch (a left leaning double decrease)
- [cable 3r over 3l] = slip 3 stitches onto a cable needle in front of the work; knit the next 3 stitches, knit the stitches from the cable needle
- [cable 3l over 3 r] = slip 3 stitches onto a cable needle behind the work; knit the next 3 stitches, knit the stitches from the cable needle
- I-cord = knit 4 stitches, slip all to left needle; repeat. Pull gently to tighten into a round braid as you go
The pattern is in sections:
- Making the starting leafs
- Joining the leafs
- Increasing braid
- Decreasing braid
- Preparing for the end leafs
- Making the end leafs
Block gently after knitting if you want a lacier look.
Making the starting leafs
Cast on 1 stitch (1st)
- kfb(2 st)
- p1 pbf (3)
- k kfb k (4st)
- p pbf p2 (5st)
- k2 kfb k2 (6st)
- p3 pbf p2 (7st)
- k3 kfb k3 (8st)
- p3 pbf p4 (9st)
- k4 kfb k4 (10st)
- p4 pbf p5 (11st)
- knit all
- purl all
- k4 sk2togpsso k4 (9st)
- purl all
- k4 skt2togpsso k2 (7st)
- purl all
- k2 k3tog k2 (5st)
- purl all
- k1 k2tog k2 (4st)
- purl all
Make i-cord = [k4 sl all to l needle] x 10 rows
Place on safety pins and repeat this section until you have 5 leaves with 10, 5, 15, 5, and 10 rows of i-cord
Joining the starting leafs
Place the stitches for all 5 leaves on one needle in order
- knit across all (20st)
- purl all
- kfb k1 kfb k2 kfbk3 kfb k3 kfb k3 kfb k1 kfb (27st)
- purl all
Increasing braid
Purl all even numbered rows (wrongside). Cable rows are in itallics. Increase rows are in bold.
1. k2 k2tog k11 yo k3 yo k5 ssk k2
3. k2 k2tog k9 yo k7 yo k3 ssk k2
5. k2 k2tog k7 yo k11 yo k1 ssk k2
7. k2 k2tog k5 yo k3 yo k11 ssk k2
9. k2 k2tog k3 yo k7 yo k5 ssk [cable 3r over 3l]
11. k2 k2tog k1 yo k11 yo k7 ssk k2
13. k2 k2tog k11 yo k3 yo k5 ssk k2
15. [cable 3l over 3r] k2tog k5 yo k7 yo k3 ssk k2
17. k2 k2tog k7 yo k11 yo k1 ssk k2
19. k2 k2tog k5 yo k3 yo k11 ssk k2
21. k2 k2tog k3 yo k7 yo k5 ssk [cable 3r over 3l]
23. k5 yo k11 yo k11 (29st)
25. k3 k2tog k11 yo k3 yo k5 ssk k3
27. [cable 3l over 3r] k2tog k6 yo k7 yo k3 ssk k3
29. k3 k2tog k7 yo k11 yo k1 ssk k3
31. k3 k2tog k5 yo k3 yo k11 ssk k3
33. k3 k2tog k3 yo k7 yo k6 ssk [cable 3r over 3l]
35. k3 k2tog k1 yo k11 yo k7 ssk k3
37. k3 k2tog k11 yo k3 yo k5 ssk k3
39. [cable 3l over 3r] k2tog k6 yo k7 yo k3 ssk k3
41. k3 k2tog k7 yo k11 yo k1 ssk k3
43. k3 k2tog k5 yo k3 yo k11 ssk k3
45. k3 k2tog k3 yo k7 yo k6 ssk [cable 3r over 3l]
47. k6 yo k11 yo k12 (31st)
49. k2 k2tog k1 yo k11 yo k3 yo k7 sk2togpsso k2
51. [cable 3l over 3r] k2tog k7 yo k7 yo k5 ssk k2
53. k2 k2tog k9 yo k11 yo k3 ssk k2
55. k2 k2tog k7 yo k3 yo k11 yo k1 sk2togpsso k2
57. k2 k2tog k5 yo k7 yo k11 ssk k2
59. k2 k2tog k3 yo k11 yo k5 ssk [cable 3r over 3l]
61. k2 k2tog k1 yo k11 yo k3 yo k7 sk2togpsso k2
63. k2 k2tog k11 yo k7 yo k5 ssk k2
65. [cable 3l over 3r] k2tog k5 yo k11 yo k3 ssk k2
67. k2 k2tog k7 yo k3 yo k11 yo k1 sk2togpsso k2
69. k2 k2tog k5 yo k7 yo k11 ssk k2
71. k7 yo k11 yo k7 [cable 3r over 3l] (33st)
73. k3 k2tog k1 yo k11 yo k3 yo k7 sk2togpsso k3
75. k3 k2tog k11 yo k7 yo k5 ssk k377. [cable 3l over 3r] k2tog k6 yo k11 yo k3 ssk k3
79. k3 k2tog k7 yo k3 yo k11 yo k1 sk2togpsso k3
81. k3 k2tog k5 yo k7 yo k11 ssk k3
83. k3 k2tog k3 yo k11 yo k6 ssk [cable lr over 3l]
85. k3 k2tog k1 yo k11 yo k3 yo k7 sk2togpsso k3
87. k3 k2tog k11 yo k7 yo k5 ssk k3
89. [cable 3l over 3r] k2tog k6 yo k11 yo k3 ssk k3
91. k3 k2tog k7 yo k3 yo k11 yo k1 sk2togpsso k3
93. k3 k2tog k5 yo k7 yo k11 ssk k3
95. k8 yo k11 yo k8 [cable lr over 3l] (35st)
97. k2 k2tog k3 yo k11 yo k3 yo k9 sk2togpsso k2
99. k2 k2tog k1 yo k11 yo k7 yo k7 sk2togpsso k2
101. k2 k2tog k11 yo k11 yo k5 ssk k2
103. [cable 3l over 3r] k2tog k5 yo k3 yo k11 yo k3 sk2togpsso k2
105. k2 k2tog k7 yo k7 yo k11 yo k1 sk2togpsso k2
107. k2 k2tog k5 yo k11 yo k11 ssk k2
109. k2 k2tog k3 yo k11 yo k3 yo k5 sk2togpsso [cable 3r over 3l]
111. k2 k2tog k11 yo k7 yo k7 sk2togpsso k2
113. k2 k2tog k11 yo k11 yo k5 ssk k2
115. [cable 3l over 3r] k2tog k5 yo k3 yo k11 yo k3 sk2togpsso k2
117. k2 k2tog k7 yo k7 yo k11 yo k1 sk2togpsso k2
119. k9 yo k11 yo k15 (37st)
121. k3 k2tog k3 yo k11 yo k3 yo k6 sk2togpsso [cable 3r over 3l]
123. k3 k2tog k1 yo k11 yo k7 yo k7 sk2togpsso k3
125. k3 k2tog k11 yo k11 yo k5 ssk k3
127. [cable 3l over 3r] k2tog k6 yo k3 yo k11 yo k3 sk2togpsso k3
129. k3 k2tog k7 yo k7 yo k11 yo k1 sk2togpsso k3
131. k3 k2tog k5 yo k11 yo k11 ssk k3
133. k3 k2tog k3 yo k11 yo k3 yo k6 sk2togpsso [cable 3r over 3l]
135. k3 k2tog k1 yo k11 yo k7 yo k7 sk2togpsso k3
137. k3 k2tog k11 yo k11 yo k5 ssk k3
139. [cable 3l over 3r] k2tog k6 yo k3 yo k11 yo k3 sk2togpsso k3
141. k3 k2tog k7 yo k7 yo k11 yo k1 sk2togpsso k3
143. k10 yo k11 yo k16 (39st)
145. k2 k2tog k5 yo k11 yo k3 yo k7 sk2togpsso [cable 3r over 3l]
147. k2 k2tog k3 yo k11 yo k7 yo k9 sk2togpsso k2
149. k2 k2tog k1 yo k11 yo k11 yo k7 sk2togpsso k2
151. k2 k2tog k11 yo k3 yo k11 yo k5 sk2togpsso k2
153. k2 k2tog k9 yo k7 yo k11 yo k3 sk2togpsso k2
155. [cable 3l over 3r] k2tog k3 yo k11 yo k11 yo k1 sk2togpsso k2
157. k2 k2tog k5 yo k11 yo k3 yo 11 sk2togpsso p2
159. k2 k2tog k3 yo k11 yo k7 yo k5 sk2togpsso [cable 3r over 3l]
161. k2 k2tog k1 yo k11 yo k11 yo k7 sk2togpsso k2
163. k2 k2tog k11 yo k3 yo k11 yo k5 sk2togpsso k2
165. [cable 3l over 3r] k2tog k5 yo k7 yo k11 yo k3 sk2togpsso k2
167. k11 yo k11 yo k17 (41st)
169. k3 k2tog k5 yo k11 yo k3 yo k8 sk2togpsso [cable 3r over 3l]
171. k3 k2tog k3 yo k11 yo k7 yo k9 sk2togpsso k3
173. k3 k2tog k1 yo k11 yo k11 yo k7 sk2togpsso k3
175. k3 k2tog k11 yo k3 yo k11 yo k5 sk2togpsso k3
177. [cable 3l over 3r] k2tog k6 yo k7 yo k11 yo k3 sk2togpsso k3
179. k3 k2tog k7 yo k11 yo k11 yo k1 sk2togpsso k3
181. k3 k2tog k5 yo k11 yo k3 yo k11 sk2togpsso k3
183. k3 k2tog k3 yo k11 yo k7 yo k6 sk2togpsso [cable 3r over 3l]
185. k3 k2tog k1 yo k11 yo k11 yo k7 sk2togpsso k3
187. k3 k2tog k11 yo k3 yo k11 yo k5 sk2togpsso k3
189. [cable 3l over 3r] k2tog k6 yo k7 yo k11 yo k3 sk2togpsso k3
191. k12 yo k11 yo k11 yo k1 ssk k4 (43st)
193. k2 k3tog k7 yo k11 yo k3 yo k11 yo k1 sk2togpsso k2
195. k2 k3tog k5 yo k11 yo k7 yo k11 ssk k2
197. k2 k3tog k3 yo k11 yo k11 yo k5 ssk [cable 3r over 3l]
199. k2 k3tog k1 yo k11 yo k3 yo k11 yo k7 sk2togpsso k2
201. k2 k3tog k11 yo k7 yo k11 yo k5 ssk k2
203. [cable 3l over 3r] k3tog k5 yo k11 yo k11 yo k3 ssk k2
205. k2 k3tog k7 yo k11 yo k3 yo k11 yo k1 sk2togpsso k2
207. k2 k3tog k5 yo k11 yo k7 yo k11 ssk k2
209. k2 k3tog k3 yo k11 yo k11 yo k5 ssk [cable 3r over 3l]
211. k2 k3tog k1 yo k11 yo k3 yo k11 yo k7 sk2togpsso k2
213. k2 k3tog k11 yo k7 yo k11 yo k5 ssk k2
215. [cable 3l over 3r] k6 yo k11 yo k11 yo k3 ssk k2 (45st)
216. purl all
Decreasing braid
Purl all even numbered rows (wrongside). Cable rows are in itallics. Decrease rows are in bold.
217. k3 k3tog k7 yo k11 yo k3 yo k11 yo k1 sk2togpsso k3
219. k3 k3tog k5 yo k11 yo k7 yo k11 ssk k3
221. k3 k3tog k3 yo k11 yo k11 yo k6 ssk [cable 3r over 3l]
223. k3 k3tog k2 yo k11 yo k3 yo k11 k7 sk2togpsso k3
225. k3 k3tog k11 yo k7 yo k11 yo k5 ssk k3
227. [cable 3l over 3r] k3tog k6 yo k11 yo k11 yo k3 ssk k3
229. k3 k3tog k7 yo k11 yo k3 yo k11 yo k1 sk2togpsso k3
231. k3 k3tog k5 yo k11 yo k7 yo k11 ssk k3
233. k3 k3tog k3 yo k11 yo k11 yo k6 ssk [cable 3r over 3l]
235. k3 k3tog k2 yo k11 yo k3 yo k11 k7 sk2togpsso k3
237. k3 k3tog k11 yo k7 yo k11 yo k5 ssk k3
239. [cable 3l over 3r] k3tog k6 yo k11 yo k11 yo k2 sk2togpsso k1 ssk k1 (43st)
241. k2 k3tog k7 yo k11 yo k3 yo k11 yo k1 sk2togpsso k2
243. k2 k3tog k5 yo k11 yo k7 yo k11 ssk k2
245. k2 k3tog k3 yo k11 yo k11 yo k5 ssk [cable 3r over 3l]
247. k2 k3tog k1 yo k11 yo k3 y ok11 yo k7 sk2togpsso k2
249. k2 k3tog k11 yo k7 yo k11 yo k5 ssk k2
251. [cable 3l over 3r] k3tog k5 yo k11 yo k11 yo k3 ssk k2
253. k2 k3tog k7 yo k11 yo k3 yo k11 yo k1 sk2togpsso k2
255. k2 k3tog k5 yo k11 yo k7 yo k11 ssk k2
257. k2 k3tog k3 yo k11 yo k11 yo k5 ssk [cable 3r over 3l]
259. k2 k3tog k1 yo k11 yo k3 y ok11 yo k7 sk2togpsso k2
261. k2 k3tog k11 yo k7 yo k11 yo k5 ssk k2
263. [cable 3l over 3r] k3tog k4 yo k11 yo k11 yo k1 sk2togpsso k1 ssk k1 (41st)
265. k3 k2tog k5 yo k11 yo k3 yo k11 sk2togpsso k3
267. k3 k2tog k3 yo k11 yo k7 yo k6 k2togpsso [cable 3r over 3l]
269. k3 k2tog k1 yo k11 yo k11 yo k7 k2togpsso k3
271. k3 k2tog k11 yo k3 yo k11 yo k5 k2togpsso k3
273. [cable 3l over 3r] k2tog k6 yo k7 yo k11 yo k3 k2togpsso k3
275. k3 k2tog k7 yo k11 yo k11 yo k1 sk2togpsso k3
277. k3 k2tog k5 yo k11 yo k3 yo k11 sk2togpsso k3
279. k3 k2tog k3 yo k11 yo k7 yo k6 k2togpsso [cable 3r over 3l]
281. k3 k2tog k1 yo k11 yo k11 yo k7 k2togpsso k3
283. k3 k2tog k11 yo k3 yo k11 yo k5 k2togpsso k3
285. [cable 3l over 3r] k2tog k6 yo k7 yo k11 yo k3 k2togpsso k3
287. k2 k2tog k7 yo k11 yo k12 ssk k1 sk2togpsso k1 (39st)
289. k2 k2tog k5 yo k11 yo k3 yo 11 sk2togpsso k2
291. k2 k2tog k3 yo k11 yo k7 yo k5 sk2togpsso [cable 3r over 3l]
293. k2 k2tog k1 yo k11 yo k11 yo k7 sk2togpsso k2
295. k2 k2tog k11 yo k3 yo k11 yo k5 sk2togpsso k2
297. [cable 3l over 3r] k2tog k5 yo k7 yo k11 yo k3 sk2togpsso k2
299. k2 k2tog k7 yo k11 yo k11 yo k1 sk2togpsso k2
301. k2 k2tog k5 yo k11 yo k3 yo 11 sk2togpsso k2
303. k2 k2tog k3 yo k11 yo k7 yo k5 sk2togpsso [cable 3r over 3l]
305. k2 k2tog k1 yo k11 yo k11 yo k7 sk2togpsso k2
307. k2 k2tog k11 yo k3 yo k11 yo k5 sk2togpsso k2
309. [cable 3l over 3r] k2tog k5 yo k7 yo k11 yo k3 sk2togpsso k2
311. k3 k2tog k5 yo k11 yo k11 sk2togpsso k1 ssk k1 (37st)
313. k3 k2tog k3 yo k11 yo k3 yo k6 sk2togpsso [cable 3r over 3l]
315. k3 k2tog k1 yo k11 yo k7 yo k7 sk2togpsso k3
317. k3 k2tog k11 yo k11 yo k5 ssk k3
319. [cable 3l over 3r] k2tog k6 yo k3 yo k11 yo k3 sk2togpsso k3
321. k3 k2tog k7 yo k7 yo k11 yo k1 sk2togpsso k3
323. k3 k2tog k5 yo k11 yo k11 ssk k3
325. k3 k2tog k3 yo k11 yo k7 yo k6 k2togpsso [cable 3r over 3l]
327. k3 k2tog k1 yo k11 yo k7 yo k7 sk2togpsso k3
329. k3 k2tog k11 yo k11 yo k5 ssk k3
331. [cable 3l over 3r] k2tog k6 yo k3 yo k11 yo k3 sk2togpsso k3
333. k3 k2tog k7 yo k7 yo k11 yo k1 sk2togpsso k3
335. k2 k2tog k5 yo k11 yo k10 sk2togpsso k1 ssk k1 (35st)
337. k2 k2tog k3 yo k11 yo k3 yo k5 sk2togpsso [cable 3r over 3l]
339. k2 k2tog k1 yo k11 yo k7 yo k7 sk2togpsso k2
341. k2 k2tog k11 yo k11 yo k5 ssk k2
343. [cable 3r over 3l] k2tog k5 yo k3 yo k11 yo k3 sk2togpsso k2
345. k2 k2tog k7 yo k7 yo k11 yo k1 sk2togpsso k2
347. k2 k2tog k5 yo k11 yo k11 ssk k2
349. k2 k2tog k3 yo k11 yo k3 yo k5 sk2togpsso [cable 3r over 3l]
351. k2 k2tog k1 yo k11 yo k7 yo k7 sk2togpsso k2
353. k2 k2tog k11 yo k11 yo k5 ssk k2
355. [cable 3r over 3l] k2tog k5 yo k3 yo k11 yo k3 sk2togpsso k2
357. k2 k2tog k7 yo k7 yo k11 yo k1 sk2togpsso k2
359. k3 k2tog k3 yo k11 yo k9 sk2togpsso k1 ssk k1 (33st)
361. k3 k2tog k1 yo k11 yo k3 yo k4 sk2togpsso [cable 3l over 3r]
363. k3 k2tog k11 yo k7 yo k5 ssk k3
365. [cable 3r over 3l] k2tog k6 yo k11 yo k3 ssk k3
367. k3 k2tog k7 yo k3 yo k11 yo k1 sk2togpsso k3
369. k3 k2tog k5 yo k7 yo k11 ssk k3
371. k3 k2tog k3 yo k11 yo k6 ssk [cable 3r over 3l]
373. k3 k2tog k1 yo k11 yo k3 yo 7 sk2togpsso k3
375. k3 k2tog k11 yo k7 yo k5 ssk k3
377. [cable 3r over 3l] k2tog k6 yo k11 yo k3 ssk k3
379. k3 k2tog k7 yo k3 yo k11 yo k1 sk2togpsso k3
381. k3 k2tog k5 yo k7 yo k11 ssk k3
383. k2 k2tog k3 yo k11 yo k3 sk2togpsso k1 ssk [cable3r over 3l] (31st)
385. k2 k2tog k1 yo k11 yo k3 yo k7 sk2togpsso k2
387. k2 k2tog k11 yo k7 yo k5 ssk k2
389. [cable 3l over 3r] k2tog k5 yo k11 yo k3 k2tog k2
391. k2 k2tog k7 yo k3 yo k11 yo k1 sk2togpsso k2
393. k2 k2tog k5 yo k7 yo k11 ssk k2
395. k2 k2tog k3 yo k11 yo k5 ssk [cable 3r over 3l]
397. k2 k2tog k1 yo k11 yo k3 yo k7 sk2togpsso k2
399. k2 k2tog k11 yo k7 yo k5 ssk k2
401. [cable 3l over 3r] k2tog k5 yo k11 yo k3 k2tog k2
403. k2 k2tog k7 yo k3 yo k11 yo k1 sk2togpsso k2
405. k2 k2tog k5 yo k7 yo k11 ssk k2
407. k3 k2tog k1 yo k11 yo k2 sk2togpsso k1 ssk [cable 3r over 3l] (29st)
409. k3 k2tog k11 yo k3 yo k5 ssk k3
411. [cable 3l over 3l] ssk k6 yo k7 yo k3 ssk k3
413. k3 k2tog k7 yo k11 yo k1 ssk k3
415. k3 k2tog k5 yo k3 yo k11 ssk k3
417. k3 k2tog k3 yo k7 yo k6 ssk [cable 3r over 3l]
419. k3 k2tog k1 yo k11 yo k7 ssk k3
421. k3 k2tog k11 yo k3 yo k5 ssk k3
423. [cable 3l over 3l] ssk k6 yo k7 yo k3 ssk k3
425. k3 k2tog k7 yo k11 yo k1 ssk k3
427. k3 k2tog k5 yo k3 yo k11 ssk k3
429. k3 k2tog k3 yo k7 yo k6 ssk [cable 3r over 3l]
431. k2 k2tog k1 yo k11 yo k6 sk2togpsso k1 ssk k1 (27st)
432. purl all
Preparing for the end leafs
- k1 k2tog k2 k2tog k2 k2tog k1 ssk k2 ssk k2 ssk k2 ssk k1 (20st)
- purl across all
- knit across all
- purl across all
Making the end leafs
Make i-cord = [k4 sl all to l needle] x 10 rows
- k1 kfb k2 (5st)
- p2 pbf p2 ((6st)
- k3 kfb k2 (7st)
- p3 pbf p3 (8st)
- k3 kfb k4 (9st)
- p4 pbf p4 (10st)
- k4 kfb k5 (11st)
- p all
- k all
- p all
- k4 sk2togpsso k4 (9st)
- p all
- k4 k3tog k2 (7st)
- p all
- k2 k3tog k2 (5st)
- p all
- sk2togpsso k2 (3st)
- p all
- sk2togpsso (1st)
Cast off and rejoin at base of i-cord for the next leaf. Repeat this section until you have 5 leaves with 10, 5, 15, 5, and 10 rows of i-cord. All done!
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