Enter the Dragon

DESCRIPTION

This feisty three-color shawl was inspired by the pitaya or dragon fruit. I was fascinated by the contrast of the black-and-white texture of the fruit itself against the vibrant, pink rind. How can something like this occur naturally?

Enter the Dragon is a shallow triangle-shaped shawl made with garter stitch and easy mosaic slip stitches. The intriguing border is a ribbed lace pattern filled with tiny leaves, resembling the spiked scales of the fruit.

The shawl comes in two sizes, Small and Large, and can also be knit with two instead of three colors. Release your inner dragon!

This pattern is written with both metric and US terminology. Only written instructions are given for the mosaic body, both written and charted instructions for the lace border.

Share your project on Instagram with the hashtags #enterthedragonshawl and #talviknits.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

• Small [Large]
• Wingspan: approx. 160 [220] cm / 63 [86½]"
• Depth: approx. 40 [60] cm / 15¾ [23½]"

MATERIALS

Yarn

Isager Alpaca 2 (50% alpaca, 50% merino, 250 m/50 g, 273 yd/1.76 oz), 3 colors

• Color A: 1 [2] skeins in the colorway #0 (natural)
• Color B: 1 skein in the colorway #30 (black)
• Color C: 1 [2] skeins in the colorway #17 (fuchsia)

Or (light) fingering weight yarn, 3 colors

• Color A (main color): approx. 250 [500] m / 270 [550] yd
• Color B (mosaic): approx. 55 [90] m / 60 [95] yd
• Color C (lace border): approx. 240 [375] m / 265 [410] yd

The sample shawl is shown in the Large size.

Needles

• 3.5 mm / US #4 long (80–100 cm / 32–40”) circular needle (or size needed to obtain gauge)

Notions

• 3.5 mm / US E/4 crochet hook and spare yarn for provisional cast-on (optional)
• Spare needle for provisional cast-on (optional)
• 1 stitch marker
• Darning needle

GAUGE

20 sts × 30 rows (15 garter ridges) = 10 cm / 4" in garter stitch, blocked

TECHNIQUES USED

The pattern uses the following techniques: garter tab cast-on, slipped stitches, lace, and elastic bind-off. The pattern assumes the ability to work a provisional cast-on; references are given for a few alternatives.

Ability to work lace from a chart is recommended but written instructions are also provided for the lace pattern.

REFERENCES

• 6+1 Provisional Cast-on Methods
• Garter-tab Cast-on
• 5 Ways to Carry Yarn Up the Side of the Work
• Elastic a.k.a. Russian Bind-off