132 Rhea Lace Stole - Shawl Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns 2/14 Alpaca Silk Hand Dyed

132 Rhea Lace Stole – Knitting Pattern Overview

The 132 Rhea Lace Stole is a beautifully conceived lace shawl knitting pattern designed by Kirsten Hipsky and published under the Valley Yarns brand. Named after Rhea, the Ancient Minoan mother of the gods from Greek mythology, this stole draws inspiration from themes of age, grace, and natural beauty. The finished piece measures approximately 24 inches by 72 inches when fully blocked, making it a generous, wearable wrap suitable for a wide range of occasions.

The design is rated as beginner difficulty, making it an ideal introduction to lace knitting for those who are newer to the craft. Despite its elegant, intricate appearance, the lace patterns used are described as surprisingly easy, combining old and new motifs to highlight the natural beauty of the hand-dyed yarn. The stole is worked flat and is seamless in construction, meaning no seaming is required beyond weaving in ends.

Design Construction and Structure

The stole is constructed in distinct sections, giving knitters a clear and organized workflow:

• End Pieces (make 2): Each decorative end piece is worked separately by casting on 10 stitches and working a 6-row lace repeat a total of 24 times. These shaped edging sections create the ornamental borders at each short end of the stole.
• Main Body: Stitches are picked up along the long, straight edge of the end pieces, and the body of the stole is worked flat across 111 stitches, forming the central expanse of the wrap.

This construction method — working the decorative ends first and then picking up stitches for the body — results in a cohesive, seamless fabric with beautifully integrated edging. The flat working method means knitters use standard back-and-forth rows throughout the entire project.

Lace Techniques and Stitches Used

The Rhea Lace Stole employs a selection of classic lace knitting techniques that are accessible to beginners while producing a refined, open fabric. Lace knitting works by pairing intentional yarn overs — which create decorative holes — with corresponding decrease stitches to maintain stitch count and shape the fabric. The result is a lightweight, airy textile with a delicate visual texture.

The specific stitches and techniques used in this pattern include:

• Yarn Over (YO): The fundamental stitch of lace knitting, creating an eyelet hole and adding a stitch to the needle.
• K2tog (Knit 2 Together): A standard right-leaning decrease used to pair with yarn overs and shape the lace motifs.
• P2tog (Purl 2 Together): A purl-side decrease, used prominently in this pattern to create a distinctive textural element within the lace rows.
• SSK (Slip, Slip, Knit): A left-leaning decrease equivalent to SKP; worked by slipping two stitches individually as if to knit, then knitting them together through the back loop.
• Sl1-K2tog-PSSO (Slip 1, Knit 2 Together, Pass Slipped Stitch Over): A centered double decrease that removes two stitches at once, used to create more dramatic shaping within the lace repeat.
• Knit-front-back increase: Used within the end piece rows to build stitch count in a decorative fan-like manner — specifically the (k1, yo, k1, yo, k1) in next stitch technique.
• Bind off: A partial bind off is used within the end piece repeat to reduce stitches and shape the scalloped edge.

Materials – Yarn and Needles

This pattern is designed specifically for Valley Yarns Hand Dyed 2/14 Alpaca Silk, a lace weight yarn. The recommended quantity is 1 skein of at least 0.25 lb and 825 yards. This yarn combines the softness and warmth of alpaca with the luminous sheen of silk, making it an especially luxurious choice for a lace stole. The hand-dyed colorways lend a wild, organic quality to the finished