What you'll need
| One size only: | Approx 140cm across. |
|---|---|
indigodragonfly UberMerGoat Sport - Cumberbacchanal
|
4 |
Product Description
Ms. Tharpe is not well known, but those who do know her call her the Godmother of Rock & Roll. Born in 1915, she was a gospel performer of great sophistication and skill, but also had rather a way with a guitar. This shawl is like Ms. Tharpe – classic in origin & inspiration, drawing on simple elements, but coming together in way that’s both elegant & bad-ass at the same time.
It’s based on the Pi shaping: starts at the center with 9 stitches, with an increase round to double the stitch count every so often. The edging pattern is flexible: work until you’re out of yarn, or the shawl is the size you want, or you just want to wear it. Only basic lace knitting skills are needed, and it's worked in the round, there’s no pesky purling. The only tricky bit is the start: you begin with a small round, but that’s over quickly. Wear it folded over your shoulders like a triangle, or fully open for more drama.
Substitute any worsted/aran weight yarn that has some substance and drape.
Rosetta Tharpe Knit Shawl by Kate Atherley
What Is Being Made
The Rosetta Tharpe is a circular knit shawl designed by Kate Atherley as an advanced knitting project. Named after the influential gospel performer and guitarist Sister Rosetta Tharpe, this shawl combines classic shaping with elegant construction. The design captures both sophistication and bold style, making it suitable for knitters seeking a refined accessory with character and presence.
Shaping and Construction Technique
This shawl is constructed using Pi shaping, a circular knitting method that begins at the center and expands outward. The pattern starts with nine stitches at the center point and features increase rounds that double the stitch count at regular intervals. This mathematical approach to shawl construction creates a perfectly proportioned circular or nearly-circular finished piece that grows evenly from the center outward.
The shawl is worked in the round, eliminating the need for purling and streamlining the knitting process. This circular construction method makes the project more accessible despite its advanced difficulty rating, as knitters can focus on knit stitches and lace pattern work without managing purl rows.
Stitch Techniques and Lace Work
The Rosetta Tharpe requires basic lace knitting skills, making it appropriate for advanced knitters who have foundational experience with openwork patterns. The edging features a flexible stitch pattern that allows customization based on yarn availability and desired finished size. Knitters can work the edging until they run out of yarn, achieve their preferred shawl dimensions, or simply complete the pattern as written.
Materials and Yarn Considerations
This downloadable PDF pattern is designed for knitting with yarn and needles appropriate to the chosen yarn weight. The flexible edging design means the pattern accommodates various yarn quantities, giving knitters freedom to work with their available materials and adjust the final shawl size accordingly.
Skill Level and Project Scope
Classified as an advanced knitting project, the Rosetta Tharpe is best suited for experienced knitters. However, the pattern's emphasis on basic lace techniques and elimination of purl stitches makes it an excellent advanced project for those ready to expand their skills beyond beginner and intermediate levels. The straightforward increase structure and circular construction provide clear progression throughout the knitting process.
```Specifications
| Brand: | Independent Designer |
| Pages: | 4 |
| Designer: | Kate Atherley |
| Craft: | Knitting |
| Format: | Downloadable PDF |
| Languages: | English |
| Number of Patterns: | 1 |
| Skill Level: | Advanced |
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