Kate Atherley Herringbone Lace Scarf & Shawl Knitting

Kate Atherley Herringbone Lace Scarf & Shawl

What Is Being Made

This downloadable knitting pattern from Search Press presents two complementary lace designs by Kate Atherley: a rectangular scarf and a semi-circular shawl. Both projects are crafted from a single ball of yarn, making them economical and quick to complete. The designs are specifically engineered to showcase self-striping yarns with long color stretches, such as Noro, by keeping the stitchwork simple and allowing the yarn's natural color variations to become the visual focal point.

Techniques Used

Both the scarf and shawl are worked using top-down, seamless construction, meaning they are knitted from the beginning point downward without requiring seaming. The projects are worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round. The pattern incorporates lace techniques throughout, with deliberate shaping that creates scalloped rows and wavy stripes as a design feature. The scarf is positioned as an ideal first lace project due to its straightforward patterning, while the shawl offers a more challenging but rewarding progression in lace construction. Both designs feature easily memorized stitch patterns, making them suitable for travel knitting projects where pattern reference may be inconvenient.

Stitches Used

The scarf features a simple 12-stitch repeat pattern with only one pattern row to memorize and execute. The primary decrease stitch employed is S2kpo, a centered double decrease worked by slipping 2 stitches together as if to knit 2 together, knitting 1 stitch, then passing the 2 slipped stitches over the stitch just knit. This centered decrease creates the characteristic lace openings and contributes to the scalloped edge effect. The pattern notes emphasize the use of a long-tail cast on, which provides sufficient stretch to accommodate blocking and is particularly important for lace projects requiring proper finishing.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The pattern accommodates flexible yarn choices while providing specific recommendations. Self-striping yarn with long color stretches produces the most visually striking results, though any yarn weight can be substituted. Thicker yarn will yield larger finished pieces, while finer yarns create more delicate projects. Needles should be sized approximately two sizes larger than those typically recommended for the chosen yarn weight, creating a looser fabric with superior drape characteristic of quality lace work. The pattern notes reference tutorials and videos for proper cast-on technique and finishing methods, including a specialized stretchy bind-off designed to ensure the semi-circular shawl displays optimal appearance after blocking.

Pattern Characteristics

• Rectangular scarf version suitable for beginners exploring lace knitting
• Semi-circular shawl version offering intermediate-level construction challenges
• Straightforward patterning easily memorized for portable, travel-friendly knitting
• Scalloped rows creating wavy stripe effects that showcase yarn color variations
• Single-ball yarn requirement keeping project cost and completion time reasonable
• Comprehensive pattern notes addressing finishing, blocking, and specialized bind-off techniques