Najran

This pattern is part of my 5 pattern collection, Incense Route, a collaboration with Malabrigo Yarn for their Malabrigo Freelance Pattern Project.

Najran is located in the southwest corner of Saudi Arabia now, near the border of Yemen, and was a major city on the incense route. It was a hub for commerce in multiple directions, and served as a distribution center not only for incense, but also spices and textiles. In fact, it was a center of fabric production in the ancient world. This rectangular stole is knit end to end in wide stripes, with a fine stripe between them. The edging is picked up and knitted in the round, in a mosaic chevron stripe pattern, like waves. The stripe and border designs are taken from traditional Saudi textiles, and are a nod to the name of the city, which can be translated to thirsty.

Materials: 3 skeins of Malabrigo Caprino (80% Merino, 20% Cashmere) - (159 yards / 145 meters, 1.76 ounces / 50 grams per skein) in Color 1 (C1), 2 skeins each in Color 2 (C2) and Color 3 (C3)

approximately 410 yards / 375 meters DK weight yarn in C1

200 yards / 185 meters in C2

185 yards / 170 meters in C3

Yarn Weight: Sport (12 wpi)

Gauge: 15 stitches and 18 rows = 4 inches in Stockinette stitch, over larger needles, blocked

Needle Size: US 8 - 5.0 mm

US 7 - 4.5 mm

Finished Measurements: 24 inches / 61 cm wide and 64 inches / 162.5 cm long

Skills Required: Picking up and knitting, knitting in the round, slipping stitches.