Converting a shawl pattern into a stole

[3secondfish]

I was looking at the Melusine pattern in the last post and it occurred to me that there are many pretty shawls out there, but I don't wear triangular shawls.  On the whole, I think I would prefer a stole with pointy ends, sort of like Knitty's Juno Regina, but with more interest in the middle bits.

My question then, is how do I start a shawl and

Comments

[djinnj]

If you're working short edge to short edge (which is generally preferable to working long edge to long edge unless your pattern requires is because OMG so many stitches), then it's fairly simple to design a stole like the Juno Regina. Just pick a lace pattern which has motifs which increase within the yarn overs at the same rate as your piece does. Plan to use a couple stitches on either side of the motif to center it. You can increase from one stitch and increase at the same rate until you've got enough to give yourself your center stitch and some border stitches if you want it to have a nice sharp point.

This can be reversed, of course, if the lace pattern is directional with the point the other way. The big thing to remember is that a lot of lace is directional in some direction. So if it's a directional pattern, you'll need to either work both ends from the point to the middle and then graft together, or use a provisional cast on and work through to one end and then pick up the cast on stitches and work to the other end.

I chart the lace motif to double check what needs to be done to modify the edges of the lace pattern for increasing in pattern. Exactly what needs to be done will depend on the lace pattern.