Knitting

Patterns, projects and techniques

Knit a Lace Shawl for Cooler Weather

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One thing about lace knitting is that, because it is so often done on fine yarn with tiny needles, it usually takes a long time to knit and also might not be the best thing to wear in terms of warmth when the weather gets colder.

This project takes care of both of those things by being a big shawl worked on heavier weight yarn than you might usually expect for lace, though it’s still light enough to keep some of the ethereal nature of lace while also being cozier to wear throughout the year.

Heavy Lace Dionne by Jeanette Sloan is a heavier weight version of her original Dionne Shawl.

Worked with a sport weight yarn, it’s still not super heavy, but you’ll feel the difference in the speed of the knitting and the warm factor when you wear it. Because this is a large shawl — it’s a triangle that’s 97.5cm (38.5 in) long and and 156.5 cm (61.5 in) wide — it gives lots of coverage and coziness.

And because lace projects are often worked on larger needles than you would expect for the weight of yarn, you’ll enjoy cruising through this project on size 7 US/4.5 mm knitting needles. Which actually makes this a pretty good option for a first large lace knitting project, because you don’t have to worry about tiny yarn and needles.

One fun twist on this one is that you can choose the edging that goes along the side of the shawl and is knit as you go. There are instructions for doing a slip stitch edging and a ribbed edging, and these are both shown in charts so you can see how the setup is different and how it integrates with the lace pattern. And it has tassels at the corners if you’re into that sort of thing.

You can grab a copy of this pattern on Ravelry.

[Photo: Jeanette Sloan]

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Comments

  1. Hi Sarah,

    I just wanted to stop by and thank you for pointing people to my Heavy Lace Dionne shawl pattern on Ravelry. I love what you’ve written about it because as the designer it sums up exactly what I was hoping knitters would get out of knitting it. For me, lace knitting is much more than cobweb weight yarns and Dionne is definitely one of my favourites.

    Sending you the warmest of wishes,

    Jeanette

Have you read?

Book Review: Knitovation Stitch Dictionary

There’s always room for more stitch dictionaries on your shelf, but Andrea Rangel’s Knitovation Stitch Dictionary is unlike those stitch pattern books you might already own. That’s because this one is full of colorwork stitch patterns rather than textured stitches, lace or cables, so the designs are ripe for adding to hats, sweaters and other projects with a stockinette stitch background. 

The book starts with a quick introduction to knitting colorwork that’s also unlike what you’ve probably seen before, because it’s less about the colors themselves and more about the kinds of fibers you choose, how the yarn is prepared and the gauge you’re working at and how those things all change the look of a design. 

Most of the book is filled with motif designs and swatches. The motifs were designed and named by Andrea’s husband Sean, who is an artist and brings a bit of whimsy to the designs. 

You’ll find some classic looking leaves and flowers, mosaics and waves, but also rubber ducks, penguins, puzzle pieces, cherries and cows, snails and teapots, eyeballs and chess pieces, to name a few. Many of the designs also have funny names, like a fish named toilet bound, or cats in suits called corporate fat cat.

Of course you can use the designs in any way you want on any project you like, but there are also three patterns in the book — for a hat, a sweater and a pair of fingerless gloves — plus discussion of how the motifs were added, adjusting patterns for a different size or gauge, and adding your own motifs. 

If you like adding a bit of colorwork to otherwise plain projects that other people have designed, or you’re ready to start making your own designs with fun motifs, this book is a great place to start. The fun and funny motifs are sure to inspire you to want to pick up your needles and add a little more color to your projects. 

About the book: 160 pages, hardcover, 150+ motifs and three knitting patterns. Published 2023 by Interweave, suggested retail $28.