Clarine

The Arthurian legend is filled to overflowing with characters, plots, intrigue… and confusion. For instance, take the lineage of one of the most loved characters: Sir Lancelot. Was he the son of King Ban or King Pant? Was his father from Benoic or Genewis (or is it spelled Gennewis)? Was his mother Helsin, Clarine (said to be King Arthur’s sister, or perhaps not), Helaine, or Elaine? Did Lancelot’s parents give him to the Lady of the Lake, or did the Lady steal him from them? Or was Lancelot stolen by a fairy to be raised in Maidenland? Confused yet? I don’t know about you, but I certainly am. In choosing a name for this pattern I thought that naming it after Lancelot’s mother would be a simple thing; instead it brought more choices, and more confusion, than one might think. In the end it came to this: I like the name Clarine, so I went with that.

Cowl is worked in the round, and starts with a folded picot hem. The lace design is worked throughout the body of the cowl, then a simple seed stitch is used to prevent curling, and to finish up the final edge. Cowl can be worn with picot edge at the top or the bottom.

If you like the stitch, but don't fancy cowls, or you like alternative twinsets, then you might enjoy Helaine, a little sweater design I came up using the same stitches.

• Yarn: light fingering weight; 520 yards held double; heavy fingering weight or light sport weight 260 yards held single.
• Model: Teresa Ruch Designs Tencel 5/2 held double; 520 yards in 4 ounces; 100% tencel.
• Gauge: 14 sts and 32 rows to 4 inches in stitch pattern.
• Needles: US 5 (3.75 mm).
• Crochet hook: US F (3.75 mm) hook for provisional cast on.
• Finished size: 24 x 12 inches.
• Stitch instructions: Charted and written.