Glenora

I recently discovered Leola's Studio.  It's just down the street from me, about fifteen minutes by bike, so  it's a bit shocking that it took me so long to stop in.  This incredible space is packed with looms and yarn, and weavers and knitters and people talking about weaving and knitting!  And, in the front of the studio there's a little section with local yarn and hand knitted and woven goods for sale.  By local, I mean that the goats live up the road, (Glenora is the name of their neighborhood) and the farmer and other creative types knit and weave right there in the studio.  Leola herself is very excited about working with and promoting Cowichan Valley fiber arts, so she invited me to design with a beautiful un-dyed mohair/wool blend from Eastwin Farm Angoras.  

The yarn has a beautiful, creamy color and creates a finished fabric with the softest, sweetest halo.  It isn't so fuzzy that it obscures lace stitch patterns; instead, it just feels cozy and elegant.  

I decided to design an unusual lace wrap.  It's as long as a standard scarf, and about as wide as one, but it has a lovely crescent shape, so it can be worn as a stole, draped around the shoulders or arms, or as a very voluminous scarf.  The stitch pattern includes a bit of cabling as well, so the texture is unexpected.  

I designed Glenora for two weights of yarn so it's extra versatile.  My local Eastwin Farm Angoras is a DK weight, and I used Rowan Kid Classic, a much-loved aran weight, for a slightly larger, thicker wrap.  (Special thanks to another local, Sian, for knitting the Kid Classic Sample!)

As is the case with most of my designs, the pattern includes written and charted instructions for the lace pattern, so you can use whichever you're more comfortable with.  (If you've always used line-by-line instructions, I suggest giving the charts a try.  Once you learn the symbols, it can be so much faster, more intuitive, and less prone to errors.  And of course, since the pattern includes both, you can always switch back to the written instructions if you find you really do like them better.)

I really appreciated getting to work with my local fiber arts community.  Leola herself will be at the 100 Mile Fleece and Fibre Sale this coming weekend, and she'll be bringing the Eastwin Farm yarn as well as hard copies of the pattern.

Pattern Info

Finished Measurements
DK (Aran) Weight Wingspan at cast on edge: 51.5 in/131 cm (58.5 in/148.5 cm)

Yarn
DK Weight:: 500 yd/460 m yarn Shown in Eastwin Farm Angoras (75% Mohair, 25% Wool; 250 yd/230 m per 120g skein) Color: Un-dyed; 2 skeins
Note: Eastwin Farm Angoras is a small, independent farm located on Vancouver Island, BC. You can purchase this yarn at Leola's Studio near Duncan.

Aran Weight: 630 yd/576 m yarn
Shown in Rowan Kid Classic (70% Wool, 26% Mohair, 4% Nylon; 153 yd/140 m per 50g skein) Color: #876 Drought; 5 skeins

Gauge DK Weight: 17 sts/29 rows = 4 in/10 cm in Lace Pattern 2

Aran Weight: 15 sts/25 rows = 4 in/10 cm in Lace Pattern 2

Needles & Notions* Needle Sizes are recommendations only. Always use needle size necessary to obtain gauge.

DK Weight: US #6/4.00 mm* 60 in/152 cm circular needle

Aran Weight: US #8/5.00 mm* 60 in/152 cm circular needle

tapestry needle
place markers

Skills
working lace using charted or written instructions, increasing

Buy the Pattern

See it on Ravelry