Product Description
The design for this Flutterby Shawl was inspired by my love of butterflies fluttering in that first glimmer of sunshine that arrives with the warmer weather.
I have used Strathearn Fleece & Fibre 100% BFL 4ply yarn in a beautiful turquoise shade to knit the main part of this shawl. For the grey ruffle edging, I used some Jubilee 4ply yarn by The Natural Dye Studio. The colours of the yarns and the beaded edgings are just perfect for a shawl as vibrant and delicate as butterfly wings.
This is a crescent shaped shawl, worked in two pieces, from the bottom up. Cast on using a beaded cast on method. Casting on and casting off both require a larger sized needle than used to knit the rest of shawl. The bottom edgings of the shawl are knitted first before moving onto the butterfly shawl border and then completing the shawl body knitting in short rows.
nstructions for the butterfly shawl border section are provided in both written and charted format.
Flutterby Shawl by Amanda (Shuttermonkey)
What Is Being Made
The Flutterby Shawl is an advanced knitting project inspired by butterflies and the arrival of warm weather. This downloadable PDF pattern creates a delicate, beaded shawl with finished dimensions of approximately 45.5 inches (116 cm) wide and 15.5 inches (39.5 cm) high. The design celebrates the vibrant, delicate qualities of butterfly wings through carefully selected colorwork and embellishment.
Yarn Materials
This shawl pattern uses two distinct 4-ply weight yarns to create its striking visual effect:
- Main Body: 360 meters (393 yards) of Strathearn Fleece & Fibre 100% BFL 4-ply yarn in Turquoise shade
- Ruffle Edging: 139 meters (152 yards) of The Natural Dye Studio Jubilee 4-ply yarn in Silver shade
The turquoise and silver color combination creates a luminous effect reminiscent of butterfly coloring, while the 4-ply weight provides the delicate drape appropriate for a shawlette-style garment.
Needles and Tools
- 4mm interchangeable needle tips
- 5mm interchangeable needle tips
- Two 80cm cables for interchangeable needle systems
- 1mm crochet hook for adding beads to knitting
Beading and Embellishment
The Flutterby Shawl features beaded edgings that enhance its delicate aesthetic. The pattern includes:
- 161 size 6 blue seed beads
- 161 size 6 silver seed beads
These beads are integrated into the knitting using a 1mm crochet hook, adding sparkle and dimension to the shawl's edges while maintaining the lightweight, flutter-like quality of the finished piece.
Knitting Techniques and Stitches
This advanced-level pattern employs sophisticated knitting techniques to achieve its butterfly-inspired design. The shawl construction combines the main turquoise body with a contrasting grey ruffle edging, requiring skill in managing color transitions and shaping. The use of interchangeable needle tips in two different sizes (4mm and 5mm) indicates that the pattern incorporates gauge changes, likely to create the ruffled edging effect and control the shawl's drape.
Bead integration is accomplished through knitting techniques that incorporate the seed beads into the fabric itself, rather than sewing them on afterward. This method requires coordination between the knitting needles and the crochet hook to secure beads within stitches.
Gauge
The pattern specifies a gauge of 16 stitches and 32 rows over a measured tension, which is typical for 4-ply weight yarn and helps ensure the shawl achieves its intended finished dimensions and delicate drape.
Design Inspiration
Designer Amanda Clark created the Flutterby Shawl as a celebration of butterflies and the warmth of spring sunshine. The color palette, beading, and overall construction work together to capture the ethereal, delicate quality of butterfly wings in motion.
Specifications
| Brand: | Independent Designer |
| Yarn Weight: | 4 Ply |
| Pages: | 9 |
| Designer: | Amanda (Shuttermonkey) |
| Craft: | Knitting |
| Format: | Downloadable PDF |
| Languages: | English |
| Notes: | 161 size 6 blue seed beads 161 size 6 silver seed beads 1mm crochet hook You may have to adjust your needle size to achieve the required tension. |
| Number of Patterns: | 1 |
| Skill Level: | Advanced |
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