Tesserae

Tesserae Full-Circle Knit Shawl by K.M. Bedigan

What Is Being Made

Tesserae is an advanced knit shawl designed in a full-circle construction. The shawl takes its name from the small tiles used in traditional Roman mosaics, which were historically crafted from stone and other materials. This design captures the essence of mosaic artistry through knitted fabric, creating a textured and patterned piece that mimics the visual complexity of tiled work.

Design Concept and Inspiration

The shawl employs a clever color-work approach inspired by mosaic construction. By combining multiple yarn colors and working only one yarn or color per round, the knitter builds up a sophisticated patterned fabric that evokes the appearance of small tiles coming together to form a larger whole. The design demonstrates how simple techniques, when thoughtfully applied, can create visually striking results.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

Tesserae utilizes slip-stitch techniques as its primary construction method. These simple stitches form the foundation of the pattern, allowing for clean color transitions and texture development. The shawl is worked in stocking stitch as the base fabric, which provides a smooth canvas for the slip-stitch patterning to stand out. The circular construction requires working in rounds, and the design is worked from the center outward to create the full-circle shape.

The color-work strategy is integral to the pattern's success: only one yarn color is actively worked per round, which simplifies the knitting process while maintaining visual complexity. This approach makes the advanced difficulty level more accessible than traditional multi-color techniques like stranded colorwork.

Yarn Requirements and Materials

Tesserae is designed for heavy lace, light fingering, or fingering weight yarn (2, 3, or 4 ply). The pattern accommodates different yarn weights with specific gauge information provided for each:

• Laceweight Yarn: 20 stitches and 36 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in stocking stitch
• Fingering Weight Yarn: 18 stitches and 30 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in stocking stitch

The shawl requires three yarn colors: a main color (MC) and two contrasting colors (CC1 and CC2). Total yardage requirements are:

• Main Color (MC): 656 yards (600 meters)
• Contrasting Color 1 (CC1): 437 yards (400 meters)
• Contrasting Color 2 (CC2): 437 yards (400 meters)

Recommended yarn options include Lotus by Trendsetter and Mimi by Wollmeise Lace-Garn, both of which work beautifully with the pattern's construction method.

Tools and Notions

To complete this project, knitters will need:

• Circular needles: 3.5 mm / US 4 size
• Eight stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping
• Tapestry needle for weaving in ends and finishing

Finished Size

Tesserae is offered in one size only, with approximate diameter dimensions provided in the pattern. The full-circle construction creates a versatile shawl suitable for various wearing styles.

Skill Level

This pattern is rated as advanced, reflecting the need for comfort with circular knitting, slip-stitch techniques, and color-work management. While the individual stitches are relatively simple, the coordination of multiple colors and the circular construction require experienced knitting skills.