| 
 by
Rebecca Hatcher
When I was a toddler, my parents
called me the Squiress of Squirmerdom for my inability
to sit still under any circumstances. It turns out
that I haven't changed that much, and I'm unable to
wear anything wrap-y without it slipping off as I
fidget.
A wrap I made last summer
out of linen yarn is particularly bad, since
the fibers don't cling to each other at all.
As I adjusted it for the jillionth time, it
occurred to me that what it needed was snaps,
buttons, hooks -- something -- all around the
edge, so it would stick to itself. I rejected
snaps and hooks, then added buttonholes along
the long edges to produce Convertible. A knitting
friend suggested cufflinks, rather than sewing
buttons to the fabric. I don't have any cufflinks,
but made some, using shank buttons and jump
rings.
Wrap it around yourself,
with the ends overlapping at one shoulder, and
use the cufflinks to hold the overlapping ends
in place. Button the long sides together to
make a long-sleeved shrug -- use fewer buttons
on each end and make a short-sleeved shrug,
with cowl (my current favorite). Make a sleeve
on one end and wrap the free end around your
neck for some asymmetry. Take out all the links
and wrap it as a traditional scarf or stole.
If you plan to wear Convertible
as a long-sleeved shrug, be sure it's only as
long as your "wingspan" (wrist to wrist,
or as long as you like to wear your sleeves).
I steam blocked periodically as I worked, to
gauge the length more accurately, since -- like
all lace -- this stitch pattern grows dramatically
when blocked.
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| 
model:
Rebecca Hatcher
photos:
Kevin Glick, Annie Driscoll, Julie Carlson |
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| One |
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| Width: 16 inches
Length: 56 inches |
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Blue Moon Fiber Arts Bambu
[100 % bamboo; 400 yds/370 m per 85g skein]; color:
Banded Agate; 2 skeins
[Note: Blue Moon's
new website goes live in May. ¾Until then, you can
order Bambu directly from them at orders@bluemoonfiberarts.com.
A 400-yd skein retails at $25.50US.]
1 set US #6/4mm needles
36 small shank buttons
18 large jump rings (can be found at any craft
or bead store)
Tapestry needle
Stitch markers (optional; used for marking repeats
of lace pattern)
Small pliers
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| |
| 20 sts/24 rows
= 4 inches in stockinette stitch |
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| [Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found
here] |
 Skp:
Slip one knitwise, knit one, pass slipped stitch
over. One stitch decreased.
Lace Pattern (Worked
over a multiple of 13 sts):
Row 1 [RS]: [K2, skp, k4, k2tog, k2,
yo, k1, yo] to end.
Even-numbered Rows 2-12 [WS]: P all
sts.
Row 3 [RS]: [Yo, k2, skp, k2, k2tog,
k2, yo, k3] to end.
Row 5 [RS]: [K1, yo, k2, skp, k2tog,
k2, yo, k4] to end.
Row 7 [RS]: [Yo, k1, yo, k2, skp, k4,
k2tog, k2] to end.
Row 9 [RS]: [K3, yo, k2, skp, k2, k2tog,
k2, yo] to end.
Row 11 [RS]: [K4, yo, k2, skp, k2tog,
k2, yo, k1] to end.
Repeat these 12 rows for Lace Pattern.
(from Vogue Knitting, 1989 edition)
|
 Loosely
CO 103 sts.
K 6 rows.
*Buttonhole Row [RS]: K3, yo, k2tog, k1,
place marker, work Row 1 of Lace Pattern 7 times,
place marker, k2, yo, k2tog, k2.
Work 23 rows in patt as set, working 6 sts
at each edge in garter stitch, and working
sts between markers in Lace Pattern.
Repeat from * 16 times more, or until wrap
is desired length.
Next Row [RS]: K3, yo, k2tog, k
to last 4 sts, yo, k2tog, k2.
K 5 rows.
BO all sts loosely.
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| Weave in ends.
Block lace, using preferred method. I steam-blocked,
which was enough to flatten the fabric and open
the holes nicely.
Make double-sided buttons
by hooking pairs of buttons together, through
the shanks, using jump rings. Try to be sure
the ends of the rings are hidden inside the
button shanks, so they won't catch on the yarn.
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|  Rebecca
knits, thinks about knitting when she should
be working, and tries to sit still, outside
of Boston.
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| Pattern &
images © 2006 Rebecca Hatcher. Contact Rebecca |
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