Stacy Charles Fine Yarns Alexis Wrap Knitting Pattern

Alexis Knitted Shawl by Sandi Rosner

What is Being Made

The Alexis is a crescent-shaped knitted shawl designed by Sandi Rosner and published by Stacy Charles Fine Yarns. This intermediate-level project produces a finished wrap measuring 52½ inches in length and 33¼ inches in width, making it an elegant accessory suitable for layering or draping across the shoulders. The shawl is worked in a single size and features a graceful silhouette enhanced by decorative scalloped edges along the cast-on edge.

Techniques Used

The Alexis shawl is constructed using several key knitting techniques that define its elegant appearance and structure:

• Lace knitting: The primary construction method uses intricate lace patterning throughout the garment, creating openwork sections that provide visual interest and a delicate drape.
• Seamless construction: The shawl is worked as a single continuous piece without seaming, allowing for smooth transitions and a polished finished appearance.
• Worked flat: Rather than working in the round, this shawl is knitted flat on a circular needle, with the fabric shaped through strategic increases and decreases that create the crescent form.
• Blocking: The finished shawl is blocked to measurements using pins or blocking wires to emphasize and define the scalloped edges along the cast-on edge, which enhances the lace pattern definition.

Stitches Used

The Alexis pattern employs a repeating Vine Lace stitch pattern as its foundation, which is worked over a multiple of 9 stitches plus 8 additional stitches and repeats over 4 rows. The Vine Lace pattern combines several fundamental knitting stitches to create its characteristic openwork appearance:

• Knit stitches (k): Basic knit stitches form the structure and solid areas of the pattern.
• Purl stitches (p): Purl stitches are used on wrong-side rows to maintain pattern consistency and create textural variation.
• Yarn overs (yo): Yarn overs create the openwork holes that are characteristic of lace knitting, adding lightness and visual interest to the fabric.
• Decreases (ssk and k2tog): Slip-slip-knit (ssk) and knit-2-together (k2tog) decreases are paired with yarn overs to balance increases and decreases, creating the lace motif while shaping the shawl.
• Slip stitches (sl wyif): Slip stitches worked with yarn in front are used at the edges to create neat selvage edges and maintain stitch definition.

Materials and Tools

The Alexis shawl requires specific materials to achieve the intended finished fabric and appearance:

• Yarn: 5 balls of Stacy Charles Fine Yarns QUEEN, a premium blend containing 75% virgin wool, 19% nylon, and 6% metallic polyester. Each ball weighs 1.75 ounces (50 grams) and contains 131 yards (120 meters) of yardage. The recommended colorway is #1390 Blush, a soft neutral shade that showcases the lace patterning and subtle sheen from the metallic polyester content.
• Needles: One Size 9 (5.5mm) circular needle measuring 24 inches (60 centimeters) in length, or the size needed to obtain proper gauge. The circular needle accommodates the width of the shawl while working flat.
• Notions: A yarn needle is required for weaving in ends after the shawl is completed.

Gauge and Construction Details

The pattern specifies a gauge of 15 stitches and 20 rows measuring 4 inches (10 centimeters) when worked in the Vine Lace pattern and blocked. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements. The shawl begins with a cast-on of 125 stitches and progresses through multiple sections of the Vine Lace pattern at varying row counts, with the stitch count gradually decreasing through strategic decreases as the shawl is shaped. The construction includes a set-up row, followed by 24 rows of Chart A, six repeats of 36 rows from Chart B, and one section of 20 rows from Chart C