Madeira Island is an oval-shaped wrap, with lots of stockinette, fun, easy raglan type increases, and a dash of old Spanish lace to spice up your project. The oval shape is more wearable and flattering than traditional circular shawls.

The design colors and shape were inspired by the Madeira Island, a Portuguese island in the Atlantic ocean. The zigzag lace and the fluttery border represent the rugged terrain of the island, as viewed via a satellite image. The ruffled borders add a touch of feminine grace and elegance. The wrap wears gracefully over an evening dress or even a wedding gown. You can choose to fasten it with a shawl pin or a latch leather closure in the front.

The wrap is ideal for adventurous knitters and seasoned knitters alike. The CO and the first few rounds require some attention, but after that the long stockinette rounds flow like a breeze and make for good TV or travel knitting. The lace st pattern is simple and easy to remember. Both gradient and solid/tonal yarns work well for the design, so just choose your favorite yarn in your favorite color and get started.

Yarn

The Fibre Studio at Yarns to Dye For Fifty Shades of Gradient – SW Merino Fingering (100% merino wool; 560 yds [512m]/113g): Madeira Island, 2 balls.

The sample used approx. 694 yds [635m]/140g.

Thanks to The Fibre Studio for providing the yarn for this design.

Needles

Size US 6 (4mm) needles, [2] 24″ (60cm) circulars and [1] 40″ (100cm) circulars.

Or size needed to obtain gauge

Gauge

19 sts and 28 rnds = 4″ [10cm] in St st

Size

60” [152.5cm] long and 20” [51cm] wide

Notions

Tapestry needle, 4 removable stitch markers, scrap yarn for lifelines (optional), blocking pins/wires, row counter (optional).

Abbreviations

See the Standard Abbreviations.

Pattern Notes

• The oval-shaped wrap begins with Judy’s Magic CO and is knit in the rnd, from the center out using circular needles. The wrap is shaped using simple raglan increases, widening without doubling the sts (as is the case with typical circular pi shawls).
• A single long CO eliminates the need for knitting very small circumferences in the rnd using DPNs or using magic loop.
• The wrap is knit similar to a typical toe-up sock that grows out on either side from a single CO edge.
• Do not substitute Judy’s magic CO method with a traditional long tail or provisional CO, as the sts are CO and the first rnd is knit across either side of the CO edge, simultaneously on the circular needles.
• For the CO, use two circular needles in different colors, textures or lengths (24” or longer, but the same needle size!) to identify the top and bottom needles. You can also use the magic loop method with one long circular needle, but knitting a huge amount of sts on each needle end can prove cumbersome, and is not recommended at least for the first few rounds.
• For casting on the 200 sts on each needle, you will need approx. 140″ [356cm] long tail.
• When knitting in the rnd using two circular needles, always be sure to use the free end of the same needle to knit. Tug the yarn a little when knitting the first and last sts on each needle.
• Sharp needles are recommended to work the k3tog.

Wrap Instructions

Using Judy’s Magic CO and the 2 shorter needles, CO 200 sts on top needle and 200 sts on bottom needle (400 sts total).

Begin knitting in the rnd on the 2 circular needles, starting with the top needle.

The beg of the top needle is the BOR; mark if desired.

Rnd 1: Top needle: K1, pm, k to last st on the top needle, pm, k1; bottom needle: k1, pm, k to last st, pm, k1.

Rnds 2-4: K, slipping all m’s.

Increase Section 1

Rnd 5: (Rli, k1, sm, k1, lli, k to 1 st before m, rli, k1, sm, k1, lli) twice (8 sts inc’d, 408 sts).

Rnd 6: K.

Rnd 7: (K to 1 st before m, rli, k1, sm, k1, lli, k to 1 st before m, rli, k1, sm, k1, lli) twice (8 sts inc’d, 416 sts).

Rnd 8: K

Rnds 9-14: Rep Rnds [7 & 8] 3 more times (24 sts inc’d, 440 sts total).

Rnds 15-16: K, removing all m’s.

Lace Section

Rnds 17-32: Using chart or written directions, work Rnds [1-16] of Diagonal Madeira Lace patt.

Stockinette Section

Rnds 33-41: K

Rnd 42: Rep Rnd 1.

Increase Section 2

Rnds 43-52: Rep Increase Section 1 Rnds [5-14] once (40 sts inc’d, 480 sts).

Eyelet Section

Rnds 53 & 55: P, removing all m’s.

Rnd 54: *K2tog, yo; rep from * to BOR.

Rnd 56: K

Ruffles Border Section

On Rnd 7 of the Ruffles border patt, the st count increases from 480 to 1200. Switch to the longer circular needle to accommodate the large increase in sts comfortably without getting bunched up.

Rnds 57-70: Using chart or written instructions, work Rnds [1-14] of the Ruffles Border patt.

BO kwise using a standard BO.

Finishing

Block the wrap, keeping the central section straight and stretching the lace and eyelet sections open. Pin out the ends carefully to a neat oval shape. Pull up each ruffle and pin out at the purl sts. Weave in ends when dry.

Charts and Written

Work Rnds 1-16 of the Diagonal Madeira Lace chart once. At the end of Rnd 6, move your BOR m 1 st to the left to work the sk2psso st. Then, at the end of Rnd 14, move your BOR m 1 st back to the right to work the k3tog st.

Written Diagonal Madeira Lace

Rnd 1 and all odd rnds to 15: K

Rnd 2: (Sk2psso, yo, k1, yo) to end.

Rnd 4: (Yo, sk2psso, yo, k1) to end.

Rnd 6: (K1, yo, sk2psso, yo) to end.Now, move BOR m 1 st to the left.

Rnd 8: (Yo, k1, yo, sk2psso) to end.

Rnd 10: (Yo, k1, yo, k3tog) to end.

Rnd 12: (K1, yo, k3tog, yo) to end.

Rnd 14: (Yo, k3tog, yo, k1) to end. Now, move BOR m 1 st to the right.

Rnd 16: (K3tog, yo, k1, yo) to end.

Written Ruffles Border

Rnds 1 & 2: K

Rnds 3-6: (P1, k1, p2) to end.

Rnd 7: (P1, m7, p2) to end.

Rnds 8-14: (P1, k7, p2) to end.