by Melinda VerMeer

Nymphalidea is named for one of the largest families of butterflies, with varieties found in every corner of the world.

With the mesh edging and solid welts separating each wedge, this design reminds me of delicate veined butterfly wings.  It was designed for use with long gradient self-striping yarns paired up with a contrasting solid or semi-solid, so each wedge becomes individual of those before and after and unique like the wings of a butterfly.

The shawl construction begins with few cast on stitches for a squared off point at the left end and expands toward the right forming a shallow inverted triangle and ending in a point at the right end. It easily can be adapted to alternate weight yarns or be made smaller or larger to suit the individual knitter.

SIZE
One

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Width: 60 inches
Length: 15 inches

MATERIALS
Yarn
[MC] Schoppel Wolle Zauberball Crazy [75% Merino Wool 25% Nylon; 459 yd per 100g skein]; color: 1660 Earth; 1 skein
[CC] Malabrigo Sock [100% Merino Wool; 440 yd per 100g skein]; color: Alcaucil; 1 skein

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
24 length-inch US #6/4mm circular needle

Notions
yarn needle

GAUGE

PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

Fingering weight yarn was used for the sample shown, but the design would work well at a lighter or heavier yarn just as well, using the appropriate needles for the size yarn used. Likewise, the size of the final item can easily be altered by adding or subtracting the number of Wedge D and Welt sections completed.

Welt
Using CC:
Row 1 [WS]: Purl.
Row 2 [RS]: P2, YO, p to end. 1 st increased.
Row 3 [WS]: Knit.
Row 4 [RS]: K2, YO, k to end. 1 st increased.
Note: following first welt, capture [MC] yarn at selvage between Row 2 & 3 by bringing [MC] over [CC] before beginning Row 3.

Wedge A
Using MC:
Row 1 [WS]: P2, p2tog, p to end. 1 st decreased.
Row 2 [RS]: K2, YO, k1, [YO, k2tog] 3 times, turn. 1 st increased.
Row 3, 5, 7 [WS]: Sl1, p to end.
Row 4 [RS]: K2, YO, k1, [YO, k2tog] 2 times, turn. 1 st increased.
Row 6 [RS]: K2, YO, k1, YO, k2tog, turn. 1 st increased.
Row 8 [RS]: K2, YO, k1, YO, k2tog, k until 4 sts rem, k2tog, k2 .

Wedge B
Using MC:
Row 1 [WS]: P2, p2tog, p to end. 1 st decreased.
Row 2 [RS]: K2, YO, k1, [YO, k2tog] 5 times, turn. 1 st increased.
Row 3, 5, 7 [WS]: Sl1, p to end.
Row 4 [RS]: K2, YO, k1, [YO, k2tog] 4 times, turn. 1 st increased.
Row 6 [RS]: K2, YO, k1, [YO, k2tog] 3 times, turn. 1 st increased.
Row 8 [RS]: K2, YO, k1, [YO, k2tog] 2 times, k until 4 sts rem, k2tog, k2.

Wedge C
Using MC:
Row 1 [WS]: P2, p2tog, p to end. 1 st decreased.
Row 2 [RS]: K2, YO, k1, [YO, k2tog] 7 times, turn. 1 st increased.
Row 3, 5, 7 [WS]: Sl1, p to end.
Row 4 [RS]: K2, YO, k1, [YO, k2tog] 6 times, turn. 1 st increased.
Row 6 [RS]: K2, YO, k1, [YO, k2tog] 5 times, turn. 1 st increased.
Row 8 [RS]: K2, YO, k1, [YO, k2tog] 4 times, k until 4 sts rem, k2tog, k2.

Wedge D
Using MC:
Row 1 [WS]: P2, p2tog, p to end. 1 st decreased.
Row 2 [RS]: K2, YO, k1, [YO, k2tog] 9 times, turn. 1 st increased.
Row 3, 5, 7 [WS]: Sl1, p to end.
Row 4 [RS]: K2, YO, k1, [YO, k2tog] 8 times, turn. 1 st increased.
Row 6 [RS]: K2, YO, k1, [YO, k2tog] 7 times, turn. 1 st increased.
Row 8 [RS]: K2, YO, k1, [YO, k2tog] 6 times, k until 4 sts rem, k2tog, k2.

DIRECTIONS
SHAWL
Using CC, CO 12 sts.
Work sections as follows:
Welt, Wedge A, Welt, Wedge B, Welt, Wedge C, Welt, Wedge D, Welt. 30 sts.

Repeat [Wedge D, Welt] 27 more times (138 sts), or until shawl is the desired size.
Using CC, loosely BO.

FINISHING
Weave in ends and block.

By day, Melinda designs at a commercial architecture firm in the yarn-bombed City of Roses, Portland, Oregon. By night she designs knitwear in her fiber-filled home.

She has numerous patterns available for download on Ravelry and Knit Picks and published in the book First Light.