Bǎoshí

Bǎoshí Lace Shawl by Joyce Yu

What is Being Made

Bǎoshí is an elegant lace shawl designed by Joyce Yu, with a name meaning "precious stone" in Chinese. The shawl features a distinctive diamond-like lace pattern that creates a sophisticated, gemstone-inspired aesthetic. The finished dimensions are 64 inches by 34 inches, making it a generous wrap suitable for layering or draping. The design is worked from the bottom up, which allows knitters to customize the final size according to their preferences by simply adjusting the number of pattern repeats before binding off.

Knitting Techniques and Construction

This advanced-level shawl employs several key knitting techniques to achieve its intricate lace design. The bottom-up construction method provides flexibility and control over the finished dimensions. The top edge is created using a distinctive garter stitch finish, where the designer knits the garter edge back and forth while simultaneously knitting one of the garter stitches together with the live stitches from the main shawl body. This technique seamlessly integrates the top border with the body of the piece.

The shawl utilizes strategic increases and decreases to shape the lace pattern and create the diamond motifs throughout. Blocking is an essential finishing step, requiring blocking wires to set the lace pattern and achieve the intended drape and dimensions.

Stitches Used

• Knit (k) – the fundamental stitch forming the fabric base
• Purl (p) – used to create texture and pattern definition
• Yarn over (yo) – creates the openwork lace holes characteristic of the diamond pattern
• Knit 2 together (k2tog) – a right-leaning decrease used for shaping
• Slip, slip, knit (ssk) – a left-leaning decrease that balances the k2tog decreases
• Slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over (sk2po) – a double decrease for more dramatic shaping
• Make one left (m1L) – a left-leaning increase for adding stitches
• Make one right (m1R) – a right-leaning increase for adding stitches

The pattern uses a legend system to clearly indicate stitch placement on right-side and wrong-side rows, making it easier to follow the diamond lace motif as it develops.

Materials and Tools

The shawl is designed to use Knit Picks Shimmer Handdyed Yarn, a lace-weight yarn requiring one skein of 440 yards (402 meters) per 50 grams. Lace-weight yarn creates the delicate, ethereal quality essential to this design. Knitters will need a US Size 4 (3.5 mm) circular needle measuring 24 inches or longer to accommodate the expanding stitch count as the shawl grows. Additional finishing supplies include a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and blocking wires to properly set and shape the lace pattern during the blocking process. Stitch markers are recommended to help track pattern repeats and construction progress.

The pattern notes indicate that while the design is written to use one skein, the sample shown contains 10 repeats of the pattern, demonstrating the customizable nature of this bottom-up construction.