I’m delighted to start the new year by introducing you to this new pattern, which has been on my mind for a long time!
« Askell » is a narrow, asymmetrical shawl that’s easy to wrap around your neck like a scarf, and deliciously cosy to face the winter! On the widest part, slipped stitches on the garter-stitch background look like long feathers that come to rest on your shoulder and gently envelop you.
« Askell » means “wing” in Breton and I hope that this pattern will inspire in you a feeling of lightness and soothing protection!
CONSTRUCTION
It is knitted starting with the tip on the right-hand side, then grows rapidly to the maximum width, then decreases at a slower rate to the final tip. This construction means that you only have to knit a small number of stitches on each row and the progression is very motivating 🙂
TECHNIQUES USED AND SKILL LEVEL
It’s a knit that’s both simple, with lots of garter stitch, but also pleasantly addictive with its interplay of slipped and cabled stitches and the changing rhythm of increases and decreases. Once you understand the principle of slipped stitches and crossing lines, it’s a very accessible and relaxing pattern that can be quickly finished with the recommended 5.5 mm needles 🙂
Most of the knitters who tested it rated it at a difficulty level of 2/5.
Sample knitted in Albertine « avoine » and Bérénice « avoine »
To knit the prototypes of this pattern, I chose to combine Albertine and Bérénice together, which gives a particularly soft and supple fabric. You’ll need 3 balls of Albertine and 2 to 3 balls of Bérénice, depending on your knitting style. Some test knitters have also made beautiful versions by combining Bérénice with Ulysse in lengths identical to the original version, which is also a very good choice for a light, soft shawl!
The sample worn by Céline has been knitted in Albertine “avoine“ et Bérénice “biche”.
Subtle variations in shade! The example on the left, in a slightly warmer beige, was made from Albertine « avoine » combined with Bérénice « biche » and the one on the right, a little more pink, from Albertine « avoine » combined with Bérénice « avoine ».
Knitting two yarns together allows you to play with the materials and create interesting shades of colour. Here are a few examples of possible combinations (you’ll find other ideas for combinations and examples of knitted samples in this blog post):
Pattern: «Askell» by Solenn Couix-Loarer, available in French and in English on our website and on Ravelry.
Finished dimensions: Approx. 190 cm / 74.8’’ long and 47 cm / 18.5’’ at the widest part
Gauge: 16 sts x 26 rows = 10 cm / 4’’ in Garter stitch with 5.5 mm / US 9 needles, blocked.
Yarn:
- 3 balls of De Rerum Natura Albertine (90 % organic Arles Merino / 10 % mulberry silk, 218 yds (200 m) / 50 g) OR 470 m / 514 yds of « fingering » yarn.
AND
- 3 balls of De Rerum Natura Bérénice (55% Super Kid Mohair, 25% silk, 10% organic Arles Merino; 210 m (230 yds) / 25 g) OR 430 m / 470 yds of « lace » yarn. (The pattern was completed by most test knitters with just 2 balls of Bérénice. Depending on how you knit, you may only need the 3rd ball to knit the swatch).
Thank you to the test knitters who knitted a preview of this pattern and helped to improve it. Don’t hesitate to check out their pretty versions on Ravelry, which might give you some ideas for your choice of colours!
Thanks to Naoko for the technical editing of this pattern and to Céline for her support and her smile in the pale winter light 🙂
I hope you like this pattern and I look forward to seeing your versions!