Ruched Shawlette

Ruched Shawlette
(According to my spellchecker,
I made up both of those words)

The story of this item is simple - I received a box full of beautiful homespun yarns as a gift, and this particular yarn told me exactly what it wanted me to do with it. Namely, it wanted to be made into a beautiful and simple triangle scarf (shawlette? I am still struggling with the vocabulary of this particular design). Whatever you call it, though, this is a perfect pattern for that gorgeous handspun you've had your eye on, one that's made especially nice by the column of ruching down the front of the piece. Blah blah blah, how about I stop talking now and start knitting instead?

Yarn: Homespun I received as a gift (100% Superfine Merino; 356 yards [326 meters]/?? grams); hand-dyed - 1 skein

The ruching. It's subtle in this yarn
but I promise it's there.

Needles: Size US 10 needles, 16" or longer size US 8 circular needle (for length, not for circular knitting), plus a size US 11 or larger needle for your provisional cast-on


Notions: Tapestry needle

Gauge: 15 stitches = 4 inches

Using your size 11 or larger needle and the provisional cast-on technique, cast on 54 stitches. Transfer to your size 10 needles and proceed as follows:

Row 1: knit until there are four stitches left in row, k2tog, k2

Rows 2 & 4: k2, purl until there are two stitches left in row, k2

Row 3: knit

Knit rows 1 though 4 until you have 38 stitches left on your needle and you've just completed row 4 (if you have yarn to spare, you could continue these four rows longer. As is, the piece measures 52" across. Each additional time you repeat these four rows before moving on to the next set will add about 1/2" to the finished length). Anyway, when you're ready, we'll proceed as follow:

Row 1: knit until there are four stitches left in row, k2tog, k2

Rows 2: k2, purl until there are two stitches left in row, k2

Knit rows 1 & 2 until you have 5 stitches left on your needle and you've just finished row 2. Then knit the following three rows to finish this half of the design:

Finish Row 1: ssk, k1, k2tog

Finish Row 2: knit

Finish Row 3: k3tog

Clip tail of yarn and thread through final stitch. Pull tight. And once that part is done, it's time to transfer the stitches from the provisional cast-on to your size 10 needles and prepare to begin a right-side row. Then we're going to work some middle rows, which include short rows before and after our ruching. We also need the following notation to continue:

lifted increase (li): insert right-hand needle straight through the middle of the next stitch in the row below, and knit; then knit the stitch on your needle normally

And let's continue like so:

Middle Row 1 (right side): k5, w&t

Middle Rows 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, & 12: purl until you have two stitches left on needle, k2

Middle Row 3: k10, w&t

Middle Row 5: k15, w&t

Middle Row 7: k20, w&t

Middle Row 9: k25, w&t

Middle Row 11: k30, w&t

Middle Row 13: * li; rep from * (108 stitches)

Middle Row 14: transfer work to your size 8 needles, then purl across

Middle Rows 15, 17, 19, 21: knit

Middle Rows 16, 18, 20: purl

Middle Row 22: * k2tog *

Middle Row 23: transfer work back to your size 10 needles and then k30, w&t

Middle Rows 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, & 34: purl until you have two stitches left on needle, k2

Middle Row 25: k25, w&t

Middle Row 27: k20, w&t

Middle Row 29: k15, w&t

Middle Row 31: k10, w&t

Middle Row 33: k5, w&t

And once these 34 middle rows are done, it's time to complete the other half of the shawlette. So let's proceed like so:

Row 1: k2, ssk, knit until end of row

Rows 2 & 4: k2, purl until there are two stitches left in row, k2

Row 3: knit

Knit rows 1 - 4 until you have 38 stitches left on your needle (or however many you stopped with on the other side) and you've just finished row 4 of the pattern, and then switch to the following pattern:

Row 1: k2, ssk, knit until end of row

Row 2: k2, purl until there are two stitches left in row, k2

Knit rows 1 & 2 until you have 5 stitches left on your needle and you've just finished row 2. Then finish as you did the other side, as follows:

Finish Row 1: ssk, k1, k2tog

Finish Row 2: knit

Finish Row 3: k3tog

Clip tail of yarn and thread through final stitch. Pull tight. Tuck in ends and block.