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Inspirations and Influences: Witchlace

Last week KnitPicks released Witchlace, and I was barely able to create the Ravelry page and the page on my blog.  So I wanted to spend a little bit of time talking about Witchlace, why I love it, and why I think you should make it.

Witchlace is part of the KnitPicks Serenity Collection, which I’m tempted to make two or three things out of myself.  It’s worked side to side, much like Newport – and in fact, they were conceived as ideas close together.  Like Newport, Witchlace uses short rows for shaping, as the majority of the sweater is worked side to side.  Once the front, back and sleeves are done, the yoke is picked up and worked in distinctive broomstick crochet.

I LOVED working with Galileo.  It’s a beautiful, beautiful yarn and has an amazing hand.  It also lends itself well to crochet, and it comes in very vibrant and jewl-toned colors.  I would design something else in this yarn in a heartbeat – I’ve actually got a few ideas I think would work out well.

In a way, Witchlace was also heavily influenced by the design I made for Tangled Magazine: Sunburst Shawl.  Like the motifs in Sunburst, the broomstick lace in Witchlace is worked in the round – making the distinctive yoke pattern.

I have so much more to tell you about designing this pattern, but I’ll save it for my Post Mortem of Witchlace in a few days.

Witchlace


Ravelry Link Here
Published in:  Knit Picks Serenity Crochet Collection, KnitPicks
Craft: Crochet
Category: Sweater → Pullover
Published: June 2013
Yarns suggested: Knit Picks Galileo
Yarn weight: Sport / 5 ply (12 wpi)
Gauge:  20 stitches and 15 rows = 4 inches in alternating rows of sc and dc worked through the back loop
Needle size: US 19 – 15.0 mm
Hook size: 3.5 mm (E)
Yardage: 1090 – 2970 yards (997 – 2716 m)
Sizes available: 32 (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64)”

This pattern is available for download for $4.99.

Early mornings around the house, days out and about and evenings in the yard – Witchlace is a sweater that embodies all of these moments. It’s both simple and feminine, pretty yet casual; reclaiming an old technique, broomstick lace, in a more modern way. The front, sleeves and back are worked while alternating rows of DC or HDC with single crochet. A textured ribbed effect is produced by working the stitches through the back loops. All four pieces are worked flat, blocked and seamed, then the yoke is picked up from each of the pieces and worked. Finally, the broomstick lace is started in the round and alternates with rows of single crochet (worked through both loops) up to the neckline.

For more information, see: http://www.knitpicks.com/patterns/accessories-en/sweaters/witchlace-sweater.html

Got questions?  Wondering if you should make this?  This is the place to ask!