Elska

Elska Sideways Beaded Lace Shawl by Corrine Walcher

What is Being Made

Elska is a sideways knit shawl designed as part of a series of sister shawls, each created to honor family members. The name Elska derives from Icelandic, meaning love, and serves as a tribute shawl. This is a large triangular wrap measuring 33 inches deep by 72 inches wide when unblocked, though final dimensions are dependent on wet blocking intensity. The shawl is engineered to use nearly an entire skein of yarn through a strategic increase-and-decrease construction method.

Construction Method and Design Approach

Elska employs a sideways knitting technique, meaning the shawl is worked from one end to the other rather than from top to bottom. This construction method allows for precise yarn usage management. The pattern incorporates a weight-based approach: knitters are instructed to weigh their yarn at the start and knit the increase portion until reaching the midpoint of yarn weight, then transition to the decrease portion for the remainder. This ensures maximum yardage utilization and creates a balanced, symmetrical shawl shape.

Lace and Beading Details

The shawl features beaded lace patterning throughout. The design includes optional beadwork, with 10 beads per repeat for a total of 270 beads as shown in the sample. Beading is accomplished using a size 12/1.00mm crochet hook to assist with bead placement. The lace construction creates an openwork fabric that showcases the yarn's drape and light-reflecting qualities, making the shawl suitable for both practical wear and decorative display.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This advanced-level pattern employs lace knitting techniques combined with beadwork integration. The construction uses stockinette stitch as the base fabric, with lace motifs worked throughout. Knitters must be comfortable reading lace charts and managing bead placement within their knitting. The sideways construction requires understanding how to work increases and decreases strategically to shape the triangular form while maintaining pattern integrity.

Yarn and Needle Specifications

The sample was knit using Dragonfly Fibers Squishy Lace, a 100% superwash merino yarn in the lace weight category, providing 870 yards per 4 ounces. The yarn used in the sample is colorway Mossy Bank. Knitting is worked on a 24-inch circular needle in US size 5 (3.75mm), or whatever size is needed to obtain proper gauge. The pattern notes that while gauge is not critical for this item, it will significantly affect the shawl's drape and the total amount of yarn consumed.

Gauge and Finishing

The target gauge is 24 stitches and 26 rows per 4 inches measured in unblocked stockinette stitch. As noted, gauge flexibility is built into the design, but variations will impact the final appearance and yarn requirements. Wet blocking is essential for achieving the finished dimensions and enhancing the lace pattern definition. The final size depends on the intensity and technique of blocking, allowing knitters some control over the finished proportions.

Skill Level

Elska is classified as an advanced knitting project, appropriate for experienced knitters comfortable with lace patterns, bead integration, and managing yarn weight-based construction methods. The sideways knitting approach and need to track yarn weight throughout the project require attention to detail and pattern comprehension beyond beginner or intermediate levels.