Product Description
This pattern came from my love of Chatsworth House in Derbyshire. The shawl represents the Cascade water feature in the gardens. The garter and eyelets are the steps and cascading water, with the eyelets increasing as you move down the cascades. The lace edging depicts the water as it reaches the bottom, with waves and ripples ending its journey.
I chose to knit mine in a beautiful gold, which reminds me of the soft golden sandstone of the house. It works beautifully in two contrasting colours, as well as the solid.
The shawl is worked from the top down, with increases on every row and the edging is knitted on which means you won't have a long cast off row - always a bonus in my book !
This pattern was a joy from start to finish, and I feel very attached to it because of my inspiration. I really hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Duchess of Devonshire Knitted Shawl by Kay Jones
What Is Being Made
The Duchess of Devonshire is a top-down knitted shawl inspired by Chatsworth House in Derbyshire and its iconic Cascade water feature. This design translates architectural and landscape elements into a wearable textile, with garter stitch and eyelet sections representing the steps and cascading water of the gardens. The shawl features increasing eyelets as the design progresses downward, culminating in a lace edging that depicts water reaching the bottom with waves and ripples.
Knitting Techniques
The Duchess of Devonshire employs several key knitting techniques that make it suitable for beginner-level knitters:
- Top-down construction: The shawl is worked from the top down with increases on every row, allowing the piece to grow progressively larger as you knit
- Sideways edging: The lace edging is knitted on sideways, which means you effectively cast off as you knit the final edge, eliminating the need for a lengthy bind-off row
- Garter stitch sections: Flat, textured sections that represent the architectural steps of the gardens
- Eyelet increases: Decorative openwork that increases in frequency as you move down the shawl, creating a visual representation of cascading water
- Lace edging: A delicate finishing edge that depicts water movement with waves and ripples
Stitches Used
The pattern incorporates garter stitch as a foundational element, combined with eyelet stitches that create decorative holes throughout the design. The lace edging uses traditional lace stitching techniques to produce the wave and ripple effects that complete the water-inspired aesthetic.
Materials
This pattern is designed for 4-ply yarn weight, making it lightweight and drape-friendly. The designer recommends knitting the shawl in a beautiful gold yarn to evoke the soft golden sandstone of Chatsworth House. The pattern also works beautifully in two contrasting colors, or in solid or semi-solid yarn colorways, offering flexibility for personal preference and creative interpretation.
Design Inspiration
Designer Kay Jones created this pattern from her love of Chatsworth House and its gardens. The shawl's structure directly references the landscape architecture: garter and eyelet sections represent the garden steps and cascading water, while the lace edging depicts the water as it reaches the bottom with its characteristic waves and ripples. The designer chose gold yarn to mirror the warm tones of the house's sandstone construction.
Specifications
| Brand: | Independent Designer |
| Yarn Weight: | Fingering |
| Pages: | 0 |
| Designer: | Kay Jones |
| Craft: | Knitting |
| Format: | Downloadable PDF |
| Languages: | English |
| Number of Patterns: | 1 |
| Skill Level: | Beginner |
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