Dragonfly On Midsummer Pond

Dragonfly On Midsummer Pond Shawl by Verna Knapp

Project Overview

Dragonfly On Midsummer Pond is an intermediate-level knitted shawl designed by Verna Knapp and published by Winter Flower Designs in 2014. This downloadable PDF pattern offers knitters two distinct construction options: a circular shawl and a three-panel configuration, each featuring an intricate beaded design depicting a dragonfly resting on a midsummer pond with surrounding botanical elements including pond weed, shore details, and lily flowers.

Design Variations and Sizing

The pattern provides two size options to accommodate different preferences and yarn quantities:

• Circle Dragonfly on Midsummer Pond: 62 inches in diameter (157 cm), with a depth of 32 inches (81 cm)
• Three Panel Dragonfly on Pond: 72 inches in diameter (184 cm), with a depth of 37 inches (94 cm)

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This intermediate shawl employs charted lace knitting combined with strategic bead placement to create the detailed pictorial design. The pattern utilizes two-color knitting techniques and beadwork integration throughout the construction. Knitters will work from charts that map out the lace stitches and bead positions for the dragonfly wings, body segments, eyes, and surrounding pond landscape elements including lily centers, shore lines, and aquatic vegetation.

Materials and Yardage Requirements

The pattern calls for two yarn weights depending on the chosen size:

• Lace Weight Yarn: 1867.7 yards (1707.8 meters) for the Circle version, or 1227.3 yards (1122.2 meters) for the Three Panel version
• Fingering Weight Yarn: 2172.4 yards (1986.4 meters) for the Circle version, or 1427.5 yards (1305.3 meters) for the Three Panel version

Needles and Tools

The pattern specifies two needle sizes for different construction phases:

• 3.25mm needles (US 3): Used for initial lace sections
• 3.75mm needles (US 5): Used for fingering weight sections

Beads are essential components of this design, with specific quantities allocated to different design elements. The Circle version requires 5490 total beads distributed across the dragonfly wings (920 beads), inner body (205 beads), outer body (370 beads), eye (250 beads), pond weed (1150 beads), shore (1160 beads), and lily center (1435 beads). The Three Panel version uses 3314 total beads with proportionally distributed quantities across the same design elements.

Pattern Structure and Content

The downloadable PDF is organized into multiple sections designed to serve different learning styles and experience levels. Section 1 provides essential knitting information including materials lists, required tools, detailed charts, and written instructions for completing the project. Section 2 offers technique guidance addressing common questions knitters may encounter during construction, supporting intermediate-level crafters through the more complex aspects of beaded lace knitting.

Beadwork Integration

The beads function as integral design elements rather than optional embellishments, creating the visual definition of the dragonfly and pond scene. Careful placement of beads in specific quantities creates distinct features: the delicate wing structure, the dragonfly's segmented body, the prominent eye detail, and the surrounding aquatic environment with lily pads and vegetation.