The “Aspen Flame” shawl is inspired by Erin Hanson’s impressionist oil painting – the Aspen Flame – that captures the golden colors of changing aspen leaves in the US state of Utah. The warm colors of the fall leaves, when juxtaposed with the cool blue-grey tones of the distant mountain slopes, add both energy and movement to the painting. This shawl design is my humble attempt to represent this brilliant impressionist painting in a handknit piece.
The stockinette stitch triangles use the false flame stitch or bargello stitch pattern, forming a beautiful mosaic of colors. The central rectangular lace section uses the flame chevron stitch to create a great texture as the stitches dance back and forth like flames.
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Yarn
The Fibre Studio At Yarns To Dye For Studio Smitten (80% SW Merino, 10% Cashmere, 10% Nylon; 406 yds [371 m]/100 g): 3-color kit – In Irons, Charcoal, Red Fox
Sample shown with MC as the variegated yarn (In Irons shade), CC1 is the solid gray yarn (Charcoal shade), and CC2 is the solid red (Red Fox shade).
Choose any set of yarns with two high contrast colors, and third yarn in a suitable variegated shade. The darker of the two contrast colors would be ideal for the lace section.
Needle/Hook
Size US 6 (4mm) needles, 24″ (60cm) circulars
Or size needed to obtain gauge
Gauge
20 sts and 30 rows = 4″ [10cm] in St st
20 sts and 24 rows = 4″ [10cm] in False Flame st
20 sts and 27 rows = 4″ [10cm] in lace patt after blocking
Size
82” [208cm] long and 18” [46cm] wide
Notions
Removable stitch markers, crochet hook or tapestry needle to weave in ends.
Abbreviations
| CC | contrast color |
| CO | cast on |
| dec | decrease |
| inc | increase |
| k | knit |
| k2tog | knit 2 sts together |
| m1r | with left needle, pick up strand between needles from back to front, and knit it through the front loop |
| m1l | with left needle, pick up strand between needles from front to back, and knit it through the back loop |
| MC | main color |
| p | purl |
| pm | place marker |
| rep | repeat |
| sl | Slip |
| st(s) | stitch(es) |
| ssk | sl2 sts as if to knit, pass sts to the left needle, knit together through the back loop |
| St st | Stockinette stitch |
| sm | slip marker |
| wyb | with yarn in back |
| wyf | with yarn in front |
Tutorials
Tutorial: How to read a Knitting Chart – knotions
Tutorial: m1R and m1L – knotions
How to knit the False Flame stitch
Pattern Notes
The basic structure of the shawl is a simple parallelogram that begins with two stitches, increases to form a right-biased stockinette triangle with right-leaning m1R increases until a certain width is reached. It’s then knit to a small lacy rectangle (without any increases or decreases), that’s finally followed by a set of right-leaning k2tog decreases to form another right-biased triangle leading back to the initial number of cast-on stitches.
Note: Be sure to carry yarn up the side of your work as you change colors, only cutting yarn when instructed.
Shawl Instructions
With MC, CO 2 sts.
Increase Section – Garter Tail
Row 1 (RS): K1, m1r, k1.(1 st inc’d, 3 sts)
Row 2 (WS): K3
Row 3: K1, m1r, k1, m1l, k1. (2 sts inc’d, 5 sts)
Row 4: K5.
Row 5: K3, m1R, k2. (1 st inc’d, 6 sts)
Row 6: K6.
Increase Section – Stockinette Body
Continuing with MC:
Row 1 (RS): K3, m1R, k to end.(1 st inc’d)
Row 2 (WS): K3, p to last 3 sts, k3.
Rep Rows [1-2] 78 more times (78 sts inc’d, 85 sts)
Increase Section – Mosaic Body
Note: Remember to carry yarn up the side of your work as you change colors.
Setup Row 1 (RS): (MC) K3, pm, m1r, k to last 3 sts, pm, k3. (1 st inc’d, 86 sts)
Setup Row 2 (WS): (MC) K3, sm, p to m, sm, k3.
Setup Row 3: (MC) K3, sm, m1r, k to m, sm, k3. (1 st inc’d, 87 sts)
Setup Row 4: (MC) K3, sm, p2, pm, *p1 wrapping yarn twice, p3, pm; rep from * to 3 sts before final m, p1 wrapping yarn twice, p2, sm, k3.
Cut MC and join CC1.
Row 1 (RS): (CC1) K3, sm, m1R, k2, sl1 wyb dropping extra wrap, sm, *k1, insert needle into next st 2 rows below and draw a loop loosely, knit next st and pass the loop over the st just knitted, k1, sl1 wyb dropping extra wrap, sm; rep from * to 2 sts before final m, k2, sm, k3. (1 st inc’d, 88 sts)
Row 2 (WS): (CC1) K3, sm, p2, sm, *sl1 wyf, p3, sm; rep from * to final m, sm, k3.
Row 3: (CC1) K3, sm, m1r, k to end slipping m’s as you come across them. (1 st inc’d, 89 sts)
Row 4: (CC1) K3, sm, p2, sm, *p1 wrapping yarn twice, p3, sm; rep from * to 1 st before final m, p1 wrapping yarn twice, sm, k3.
Join CC2.
Row 5: (With CC2) K3, sm, m1r, sl1 wyb dropping extra wrap, pm/sm, *k1, insert needle into next st 2 rows below and draw a loop loosely, knit next st and pass the loop over the st just knitted, k1, sl1 wyb dropping extra wrap, sm; rep from * to 2 sts before final m, k2, pm/sm, k3. (1 st inc’d, 90 sts)
Row 6: (With CC2) K3, sm, p2, sm, *sl1 wyf, p3, sm; rep from *, sl1 wyf, p1, sm, k3.
Row 7: (With CC2) K3, sm, m1r, k to end slipping m’s as you come across them. (1 st inc’d, 91 sts)
Row 8: (With CC2) K3, sm, p2, sm, *p1 wrapping yarn twice, p3, sm; rep from *, p1 wrapping yarn twice, p2, sm, k3.
Rep Rows [1-8] 6 more times, then Rows [1-7] once.
Next Row: (With CC2) K3, sm, p to last 3 sts slipping m’s as you come across them, k3. (64 rows worked, 32 sts inc’d, 119 sts)
Cut CC1.
Central Lace Section
Lace Setup Row 1 (RS): (CC2) K3, sm, m1r, k to last m removing all patt rep m’s as you come to them, sm, k3. (1 st inc’d, 120 sts)
Lace Setup Row 2 (WS): (CC2) K3, sm, p to m, sm, k3.
Lace Setup Row 3: (CC2) K3, sm, m1r, k to end slipping m’s as you come across them.(1 st inc’d, 121 sts)
Lace Setup Row 4: (CC2) K3, sm, p to m, sm, k3.
Lace Setup Row 5: (CC2) K3, sm, m1r, k to m, sm, k3. (1 st inc’d, 122 sts)
Lace Setup Row 6: (CC2) K3, sm, p to m, sm, k3.
Using the chart or written instructions, with CC2, work the lace section Rows [1-24] 3 times, repeating the lace motif 16 times across each row between the garter edges.
Decrease Section – Mosaic Body
Setup Row 1 (RS): (CC2) K3, sm, k to last 5 sts, k2tog, sm, k3. (1 st dec’d, 121 sts)
Setup Row 2 (WS): (CC2) K3, sm, p to m, sm, k3.
Setup Row 3: (CC2) K3, sm, k to last 5 sts, k2tog, sm, k3. (1 st dec’d, 120 sts)
Setup Row 4: (CC2) K3, sm, p to m, sm, k3.
Setup Row 5: (CC2) K3, sm, k to last 5 sts, k2tog, sm, k3. (1 st dec’d, 119 sts)
Setup Row 6: (CC2) K3, sm, p2, *p1 wrapping yarn twice, p3; rep from * to last 5 sts, p2, sm, k3.
Row 1 (RS): (CC1) K3, sm, k2, pm/sm, *sl1 wyb dropping extra wrap, k1, insert needle into next st 2 rows below and draw a loop loosely, knit next st and pass the loop over the st just knitted, k1, pm/sm; rep from *, to last 6 sts, sl1 wyb, k2tog, sm, k3. (1 st dec’d, 118 sts)
Row 2 (WS): (CC1) K3, sm, p1, sl1 wyf, sm, *p3, sl1 wyf, sm; rep from * to last 5 sts, p2, sm, k3.
Row 3: (CC1) K3, sm, k to 2 sts before last m, k2tog, sm, k3; slipping m’s as you come across them. (1 st dec’d, 117 sts)
Row 4: (CC1) K3, sm, p1, sm, *p3, p1 wrapping yarn twice, sm; rep from *, to last 5 sts p2, sm, k3.
Row 5: (CC2) K3, pm/sm, k2, sm, *sl1 wyb dropping extra wrap, k1, insert needle into next st 2 rows below and draw a loop loosely, knit next st and pass the loop over the st just knitted, k1, pm/sm; rep from * to last 5 sts, k2tog (removing the final patt rep m), sm, k3. (1 st dec’d, 116 sts)
Row 6: (CC2) K3, sm, *p3, sl1 wyf, sm; rep from *, sm, p2, sm, k3.
Row 7: (CC2) K3, sm, k to 2 sts before last m, k2tog, sm, k3. (1 st dec’d, 115 sts)
Row 8: (CC2) K3, sm, p2, p1 wrapping yarn twice, sm, *p3, p1 wrapping yarn twice, sm; rep from *, to last 5 sts, sm, p2, sm, k3.
Rep Rows [1-8] 6 more times, then Rows [1-7] once.
Next Row: (With CC2) K3, sm, p to last 3 sts slipping m’s as you come to them, k3. (64 rows worked, 32 sts dec’d, 87 sts)
Cut CC1 and CC2.
Decrease Section – Stockinette Body
Join MC.
Setup Row 1 (RS): (MC) K3, pm, k to last 5 sts, k2tog, k3.(1 st dec’d, 86 sts)
Setup Row 2 (WS): (MC) K3, pm, p to last 3 sts, sm, k3.
Setup Row 3: (MC) K3, sm, k to last 5 sts, k2tog, sm, k3. (1 st dec’d, 85 sts)
Setup Row 4: (MC) K3, sm, p2, pm, *p1 wrapping yarn twice, p3; rep from * ending last rep with p2, sm, k3.
Row 1 (RS): K3, k to last 5 sts, k2tog, k3. (1 st dec’d, 84 sts)
Row 2 (WS): K3, p to last 3 sts, k3.
Rep Rows [1-2] 76 more times until you have 7 sts on the needles. (77 sts dec’d, 7 sts)
Decrease Section – Garter Tail
Continuing with MC:
Row 3 (RS): K1, k2tog, k1, ssk, k1. (2 sts dec’d, 5 sts)
Row 4 (WS): K5.
Row 5: K2, k2tog, k1. (1 st dec’d, 4 sts)
Row 6: K4.
Row 7: K2tog, ssk. (2 sts dec’d, 2 sts)
Row 8: K2tog. (1 st dec’d, 1 st)
Cut MC and pull yarn through final loop.
Finishing
Weave in ends. Wash and block to measurements.
Lace Pattern – Chart
Using CC2, work Rows [1-24] 3 times, repeating the lace section 16 times across each row, between garter edges.
Note: The lace chart includes RS rows only. All WS rows are purled between the garter edges.
Lace Pattern – Written Instructions
Row 1 (RS): K3, sm, k3, *ssk, k5, yo; rep from * to 1 st before m, k1, sm, k3.
Row 2 and all even (WS) rows to 24: K3, sm, p to last 3 sts, sm, k3.
Row 3: K3, sm, k3, *ssk, k4, yo, k1; rep from * to 1 st before m, k1, sm, k3.
Row 5: K3, sm, k3, *ssk, k3, yo, k2; rep from * to 1 st before m, k1, sm, k3.
Row 7: K3, sm, k3, *ssk, k2, yo, k3; rep from * to 1 st before m, k1, sm, k3.
Row 9: K3, sm, k3, *ssk, k1, yo, k4; rep from * to 1 st before m, k1, sm, k3.
Row 11: K3, sm, k3, *ssk, yo, k5; rep from * to 1 st before m, k1, sm, k3.
Row 13: K3, sm, k1, *yo, k5, k2tog; rep from * to 3 sts before m, k3, sm, k3.
Row 15: K3, sm, k1, *k1, yo, k4, k2tog; rep from * to 3 sts before m, k3, sm, k3.
Row 17: K3, sm, k1, *k2, yo, k3, k2tog; rep from * to 3 sts before m, k3, sm, k3.
Row 19: K3, sm, k1, *k3, yo, k2, k2tog; rep from * to 3 sts before m, k3, sm, k3.
Row 21: K3, sm, k1, *k4, yo, k1, k2tog; rep from * to 3 sts before m, k3, sm, k3.
Row 23: K3, sm, k1, *k5, yo, k2tog; rep from * to 3 sts before m, k3, sm, k3.
Row 24: K3, sm, p to 3 sts, sm, k3.
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About the Designer: Jayalakshmi M H
Jayalakshmi (AKA Jaya) is a mother of twin girls and lives in Hyderabad, India. She works as a technical consultant and manages to pack in as much knitting and designing in the little precious “me-time” that she gets.
As a knitwear designer for the past 4 years, her work has been published in many craft magazines, websites, and yarn companies.
She is also a yoga enthusiast and an amateur photographer. When she’s not working, knitting, or designing, you can find her reading books or playing jigsaw puzzles with her girls.
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