Knitty: Summer 2006

Knitty: little purls of wisdom

© Knitty 2002-2006. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. This means you.

fetching carpathia perdita muff knucks reptilian rpm widdershins
baudelaire lickety split dancing lady tulip toes lacanau halfdome maze
crosspatch sock monkey klein bottle swell julie manresaalletelilies
universal toe-up sock formula

by Jennifer Tallapaneni Make yourself some new extremities. These knitted wings can easily be made into different styles with different yarns. Since gauge is not crucial, use up that stash yarn for some white or black angel wings, or a bit of colorful sparkly yarn to create fairy wings. For a smaller, child size simply work pattern in thinner yarn with appropriate size needles.
model: Jennifer Tallapaneni photos: Kishore Tallapaneni

SIZE
One

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Wing span: 22 inches Length: 8 inches
MATERIALS Lion Brand Wool-Ease [80% acrylic, 20% wool; 197 yd/180 m per 85g skein]; shown in #620-100 White and #620-135 Black; 1 skein 1 US #7/4.5mm circular needle, 29 inch or longer 1 spare circular needle, US #7/4.5mm or smaller 2 stitch markers Tapestry needle 18 gauge (or thicker) floral wire 1 yard of white or black elastic, to match wings (optional)

GAUGE 18 sts/24 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here]
DI (Decorative Increase): Lift horizontal strand between stitch just knit, and next stitch, and place it on left needle. Knit this stitch without twisting it. This creates a smaller eyelet than a yarn over. For further instuction, see the video here. S2KP: Slip next 2 sts to right needle as if to knit them together; k next st, pass both slipped stitches, together, over stitch just knit. Forms a centered double decrease. Knitted Cast-on Insert right needle into first stitch on left needle, wrap yarn and draw through as if to knit but do not remove stitch from left needle. Place new stitch onto left needle. Insert right needle into last stitch made on left needle. Wrap yarn and draw through as if to knit but do not remove stitch from left needle. Place new stitch on left needle. Repeat from for knitted cast-on. Feather Pattern (Worked back and forth over a multiple of 10 sts + 3): Row 1 [RS]: K2, [DI, k3, S2KP, k3, DI, k1] to last st, k1. Row 2 [WS]: P all sts. Faggot-Stitch Cord: CO 2 sts. Row 1: Bring yarn from back of work, over right needle to front of work; p2tog. Turn work. Repeat this row for Faggot-Stitch Cord. This creates a very stretchy cord, which will hold the wings snugly against the back.

DIRECTIONS
First Wing Loosely CO 43 sts. Row 1* [WS]: P all sts. Work 24 rows in Feather Pattern. Next Row [RS]: P all sts. Next Row [WS]: K all sts. Work 12 more rows in Feather Pattern.* Break yarn and place all sts on hold on spare circular needle. Second Wing Work as for First Wing from * to ; do not break yarn. Turn work. CO 10 sts using Knitted Cast On method. 53 sts. Joining Row* [RS]: K all sts on needle, place marker; turn work, CO 18 sts using Knitted Cast On Method, place marker; turn work, k held sts from spare circular needle onto working needle; turn work, CO 10 sts using Knitted Cast On method. 124 sts. Wing Bone Odd-numbered Rows 1-9 [WS]: P to marker, [k2, p2] to 2 sts before next marker, k2, p to end. Rows 2 & 4 [RS]: K1, kfb, k to marker, [p2, k2] to 2 sts before next marker, p2, k to last 2 sts, kfb, k1. 128 sts at the end of Row 4. Rows 6 & 8 [RS]: K1, k2tog, k to marker, [p2, k2] to 2 sts before next marker, p2, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 124 sts at the end of Row 8. Once Row 9 is complete, BO all sts. Break yarn, leaving a tail at least 1 yard long. Straps Work two 18-inch Faggot-Stitch Cords. OR Cut two 18-inch pieces of elastic.

FINISHING
Lay work flat with WS facing. Cut two lengths of wire, each the length of the work between outer edges of wings, not including protruding ends of wing bone. Lay these pieces of wire on WS of wing bone. Fold top of work over so that BO edge meets Joining Row. Use yarn tail to sew work closed along this edge. Fold protruding ends of wing bone down along sides of wings and sew in place (see photo above). Pin straps to WS of wings, at each end of ribbed center section. Try on to check length, then sew in place and weave in ends. Lightly steam block wings.
ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Jennifer knits and designs nightly in Dallas to the sounds of her husband's Xbox. Her blogging attempts and other patterns can be seen at pieKnits.com.
Pattern & images © 2006 Jennifer Tallapaneni. Contact Jennifer