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Zalesić

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There’s a chill in the air. As I walk the mountain trail, the early signs are there: Nature prepares for its annual color show. Yes, autumn! While leaves are still green and grasses yellow after the warmth of summer, I welcome the change of season and the promise of a bright and colorful time. A majesty of red, orange, yellow, and even burgundy will unfold right before my eyes.


The Zalesić stole / shawl is inspired by autumn and by Shetland knitting traditions. Garter-based lacy stitch patterns dance their way up the stole / shawl. They form shapes like small leaves and slender grasses. Are you ready for color?! Come along to play and admire it all!


For best effect, use a round yarn with good stitch definition. Yarn weights ranging from Lace to Worsted would be suitable. As for colorways, I would recommend solid, semi-solid, speckled, gradient yarns, or a self-striping yarn with a long color repeat.


Please check at the bottom of the page for tips on yarn substitution and customization options.


Do you like the Zalesić stole / shawl? You might like those patterns too: The Glasmålning cowl, and the Dúha shawl. For endless fun with fun gradient and lace! Check them out!


How to pronounce Zalesić : Click here

Yarn
Schoppel Zauberball (Light Fingering; 75% Wool, 25% Nylon; 420 meters / 459 yards per 100 grams); [2,3] balls. The sample (stole, small size) uses 137 grams in color 2203 Oktoberfest. The shawl (large size) uses 253 grams.

Needles
3.25 mm (US size 3) 60 cm / 24 inches circular needle or size to obtain gauge.

Gauge
23.75 stitches and 49 rows = 10 cm / 4 inches in Garter stitch, unblocked.
15 stitches and 30 rows = 10 cm / 4 inches in Stitch Pattern B – Meadow, blocked.
15 stitches and 30 rows = 10 cm / 4 inches in Stitch Pattern C – Leaf Bouquet, blocked.
Note: obtaining the gauge given is not crucial but will affect the finished size and the yardage needed.

Notions
Removable stitch markers (optional): 2 in color A (edge marker), 2 in color B (balancing-stitches marker), [2, 7] in color C (repeat marker), 1 in color D (RS marker). Tapestry needle. Blocking pins. Blocking wires (optional).

Sizes
Small (stole), large (shawl); easily customizable.

Final measurements
Small size (stole): Width (w): 39 cm / 15.25 inches, length (l): 193 cm / 76 inches.
Large size (shawl): Width (w): 79 cm / 31 inches, length (l): 193 cm / 76 inches.

Skill level
Basic stitches, increases, single and double decreases. Relatively easy to memorize stitch pattern. Patterning on odd rows only. Working garter-based lace. Elastic BO.
Video tutorials are provided for the stitches and techniques used.

Pattern notes
This pattern is worked flat starting from the short side and with a needle size larger than the yarn would call for. This produces a lacier fabric. The stitch count remains constant throughout the whole pattern.
The stole / shawl is Shetland-inspired and uses garter-based lace. Suggestions are given to customize the pattern.
Charts and written instructions are provided as well as clear video tutorials for the used stitches and techniques.

Pattern support
For questions about this pattern, please PM me on Ravelry or send me an email. Contact details are provided.

Thank you note
I’d like to send a big thank you to my truly awesome test knitters on Ravelry: kallyknits. Thanks a lot for your time and dedication, for helping me make this pattern even better and for showing how the pattern would look like with different yarns!

Yarn ideas
Do you need ideas for gradient yarns? Here you go!
Here are some suggestions for a few specific yarns in varying yarn weights (and in no particular order). Choose a round yarn without halo or fluff and good stitch definition. Please plan your substitution and check the put up and fiber content before buying (cotton and alpaca are heavier than wool for example):


  • https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/knit-picks-stroll-gradient
  • https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/lang-yarns-ayumi
  • https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/lang-yarns-puno
  • https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/hikoo-by-skacel-concentric-cotton
  • https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/wendys-wonders-merino-nylon-sportweight-75-25
  • https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/schoppel-wolle-zauberball-cotton
  • https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/schoppel-wolle-zauberball100
  • https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/scheepjes-whirl
  • https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/scheepjes-woolly-whirl
  • https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/lafeefil-merino-nylon-light-fingering-gradient
  • https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/squirrels-yarns-noisette-fing-500
  • https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/squirrels-yarns-tourbillon-noisette-sport


Indie dyers who make a lot of gradient yarns:


  • https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/brands/fierce-fibers
  • https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/brands/knitwhits-freia-handpaints
  • https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/brands/bilum-hand-dyed-yarns
  • And more here: https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/search#ya=gradient%2Bhand-dyed&sort=best&view=thumblist
  • And even more on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/search?q=gradient%20yarn


More gradient yarns on Ravelry, per weight:


  • Worsted: https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/search#ya=gradient&weight=worsted&sort=best&view=thumblist
  • DK: https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/search#weight=dk&ya=gradient&sort=best&view=thumblist
  • Sport: https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/search#ya=gradient&weight=sport&sort=best&view=thumblist
  • Fingering: https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/search#ya=gradient&weight=fingering&sort=best&view=thumblist
  • Lace: https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/search#ya=gradient&weight=lace&sort=best&view=thumblist


If you'd like to use a gradient yarn, I'd suggest to use the following options to work the pattern:


  • 1 strand from a large skein of yarn with one continuous gradient
  • 1 strand from two 100g skeins with one continuous gradient and use them "head to toe" (for example: light to dark then dark to light, forming a double gradient)
  • 2 strands held together from two balls of light-weight yarns, starting at exactly the same color for both
  • one gradient yarn completed at the beginning and end with the matching colors to transition in and out of the gradient
  • a set of gradient skeins from your favorite local brand or dyer. If you are using a light-weight and two strands, you can even fade them at the color transitions (for example: two strands in color A, then one strand in color A and one strand in color B, then two strands in color B, etc.)
  • you could even try to dye your own gradient yarns
  • or you could dye the finished project to have full control of the color transitions (please practice dyeing before you dye your project!)
  • of course, you can use a lighter-weight yarn, like lace held single to knit the pattern. In that case, check your gauge to maintain good measurements (and most probably add some pattern repeats). The yardage will really depend on whether you want to maintain the measurements.
  • and you can use a heavier-weight yarn, like DK or Worsted and make the pattern larger. In that case, check your gauge to maintain good measurements. You might even want to add some pattern repeats to make the pattern much larger.


Suggestions for customizing the pattern
The pattern can be customized very easily in length by adjusting the number of stitch repeats (vertical repeats).
The pattern can be customized easily in width by adjusting the number of stitch repeats (horizontal repeats). It's very easy to make the pattern wider, for example working a shawl or a blanket.
However, the stole uses 3 repeats per row. To make a (wide) scarf, you could go down to 2 repeats. I do not recommend going down to 1 repeat as you will loose most of the patterning in the center lace portion. Instead, I would suggest choosing a lighter-weight yarn like laceweight. Make sure you swatch with your selected yarn to calculate the pattern measurements and make it fit you perfectly.

Want to get a free cowl? Read on!

We all love knitting, right?! I certainly do! I'd like to gift you a cowl and doing so spread the love for knitting even more :-) This gift is available to everyone.

Curious about which cowl that is? Head over to the Skeinwalker freebie page to find out!. Upon registering and confirming your email address, you will receive the link to download the pattern PDF, and you will get a free subscription to The Explorers Weekly newsletter, with tips, inspiration, updates on new pattern releases along with exclusive coupon codes for discounts that I don't share anywhere else.

You will get a PDF (7MB) file