Le Soir

Strong lines and meandering diagonals make up the fabric of this highly textural wrap, enhanced by an understated picot border. The edging features a chevron motif, garter stitch, and nupps bent into graceful curves. Lace patterning is worked on both sides of the trellised body; once the body is completed, a second edging is knit and grafted onto the live body stitches. Inspired by the restrained eloquence of the art song Le Soir by Charles Gounod, the stole is suitable for both evening attire and moonlit strolls along the seashore.

Pattern has been tech edited and tested.

Yarn: Shawl A: Miss Babs Woodbury (fingering; 65% merino wool, 35% Tussah silk; 400 yd/97 g): White Peppercorn, 2 hanks
Shawl B: Miss Babs Katahdin 437 (light fingering; 100% Bluefaced Leicester wool; 437 yd/100g), 2 hanks

Needles: Shawl A: Two 24” circulars, US 4 (3.5 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge
Shawl B: Two 24” circulars, US 5 (4.0 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge

Notions: Stitch markers, tapestry needle, rigid blocking wires rustproof pins, blocking mats

Notes: The stole is cast on at one end and knit through the edging to the end of the body section; a second edging is knit and grafted onto the live stitches from the body. The length can easily be adapted by adding more repeats of either Chart A or Chart C; if lengthening the stole, be sure to have extra yarn.
Where instructions for Shawls A and B differ, instructions for Shawl A are always written first, with instructions for Shawl B written in brackets ().
A circular needle is specified to accommodate the large number of stitches and for ease of grafting; do not join in the round.
When working nupps, be sure not to knit/yarnover too tightly, as this will make it too difficult to purl the loops together on the following row.
The nupps can be replaced with beads if desired.
Shawl A used about 750 yards of fingering weight yarn. Shawl B used about 860 yards.
Lace is charted only.