Astrateia

Astrateia Shawl by Kat Riddell

What Is Being Made

Astrateia is a fingering-weight knit shawl designed by Kat Riddell, known as the wayward knitter. This triangular shawl measures 61.5 inches (156 centimeters) wide and 27 inches (68.5 centimeters) deep, making it a generous wrap suitable for layering or draping across the shoulders. The shawl is worked in a lace pattern that creates an elegant, openwork fabric ideal for showcasing the beauty of fingering-weight yarn.

Craft and Techniques

Astrateia is a knitting project suitable for beginner knitters. The shawl employs fundamental knitting techniques combined with lace construction methods. The design incorporates yarn overs to create decorative openwork sections, which are a hallmark of lace knitting. The shawl uses strategic decreases to shape the triangular silhouette while maintaining the integrity of the lace pattern throughout.

The pattern includes a specialized Picot Bind-Off finish, which adds a decorative, scalloped edge to the completed shawl. This bind-off technique involves alternating small cast-on and bind-off sequences to create a delicate, ornamental border that frames the finished piece.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques Used

• Knit (k): The fundamental knit stitch forms the base of the fabric
• Purl (p): Purl stitches are incorporated into the pattern structure
• Yarn Over (yo): Creates the openwork and lace characteristics of the shawl
• Knit 2 Together (k2tog): A right-leaning decrease used to shape the shawl and create lace motifs
• Slip, Slip, Knit (SSK): A left-leaning decrease worked by slipping two stitches knitwise, passing them back to the left needle, and knitting them together
• Slip, Knit 2 Together, Pass Slipped Stitch Over (Sk2p): A centered double decrease that slips one stitch, knits the next two stitches together, then passes the slipped stitch over the decrease
• Picot Bind-Off: A decorative finishing technique that creates a scalloped edge through repeated cast-on and bind-off sequences

Materials and Specifications

The shawl requires 840 yards (768 meters) of fingering-weight yarn. The suggested yarn is Malabrigo Yarn Mechita in the colorway "Diana," though any fingering-weight yarn of similar yardage and characteristics will work. Knitting is worked on US 5 (3.75mm) needles, which is the standard needle size for fingering-weight yarn projects.

The gauge is 21 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) in the Body Lace pattern. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the finished measurements and ensuring the shawl drapes correctly.

Additional notions required include four stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping points, and a yarn needle for weaving in ends upon completion. These minimal notions make Astrateia an accessible project for knitters building their tool collection.