Lóngyǎn

Lóngyǎn Lace Shawl by Joyce Yu

What is Being Made

Lóngyǎn is a customizable knit shawl designed by Joyce Yu, available in two distinct construction options. The shawl features a distinctive lace pattern inspired by dragon eyes, with a center lace motif that resembles scales running up the spine of the garment. The design comes in standard finished dimensions of 40" x 22" (102 x 52 cm) or 60" x 28" (153 x 72 cm), with the option to customize to any preferred size. The shawl is worked from the bottom up, making it accessible for adjusting length and width to suit individual preferences.

Construction Versions

The pattern offers two distinct versions to suit different aesthetic preferences:

• All-Over Lace Body: A fully laced design throughout the entire shawl for a delicate, open appearance
• Stockinette Body: A smooth stockinette stitch base with the center lace pattern continuing up the spine, providing visual interest while maintaining a more structured fabric

Design Inspiration and Development

The Lóngyǎn pattern evolved from modifications to the stitch pattern found in Kuaile. Through deliberate adjustments to the original pattern, the designer created a motif that evokes the appearance of lóngyǎn, meaning "dragon eyes" in Chinese. The scale-like lace pattern that forms the center spine of the shawl reinforces this thematic inspiration while adding textural depth to both construction versions.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques:

• Lace Knitting: The creation of intentional openwork through yarn overs and strategic decreases, forming the dragon eye motif and scale-like patterns
• Bottom-Up Construction: Working from the cast-on edge upward, allowing for easy customization and adjustment of finished dimensions
• Stockinette Stitch: Smooth, flat knit fabric used as the base in the stockinette version
• Decreases and Shaping: Strategic stitch reductions to create the lace pattern and shape the shawl
• Blocking: Finishing technique to set the lace pattern and achieve final dimensions

Stitches Used

The pattern utilizes a range of essential knitting stitches to construct the shawl:

• Knit (k): The fundamental knit stitch forming the base fabric
• Purl (p): Used to create texture and pattern variation
• Yarn Over (yo): Creates the openwork characteristic of lace knitting
• Knit 2 Together (k2tog): A right-leaning decrease used to balance yarn overs
• Knit 3 Together (k3tog): A double decrease for more dramatic shaping within the lace pattern
• Purl 2 Together (p2tog): A decrease worked on the wrong side
• Slip, Slip, Knit (ssk): A left-leaning decrease for balanced decreases in the lace motif
• Slip, Slip, Slip, Knit (sssk): A double decrease alternative for lace shaping
• Slip Stitch (sl): Used for edge finishing and pattern transitions

Materials Required

The Lóngyǎn pattern calls for specific materials to achieve the intended drape and appearance:

• Yarn: Knit Picks Shadow Yarn in lace weight, with yardage requirements of 440 yards (402 meters) per 50-gram skein. The standard 40" x 22" size requires 1 skein, while the larger 60" x 28" version requires 2 skeins. Custom sizes will require yardage adjustments accordingly
• Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm) needles, 32 inches (80 cm) or longer in length to accommodate the shawl width
• Notions: Tapestry needle for weaving in ends, stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats