Sea Silk Stole

Sea Silk Stole by Bronagh Miskelly

What is Being Made

The Sea Silk Stole is a luxurious knitted wrap designed for glamorous wear. This intermediate-level shawl measures 210cm in length and 50cm in width, making it a generous stole suitable for draping elegantly over the shoulders. The design combines two premium natural fibers—silk and seaweed-sourced seacell—to create a lightweight fabric with exceptional drape and fluid movement.

Fiber Content and Materials

This stole is crafted using Handmaiden Yarns Seasilk, a luxurious blend of 70% silk and 30% seacell (seaweed-sourced fiber). The yarn provides approximately 400 meters per 100 grams, with the pattern requiring 2 x 100g skeins of the colorway Frozen Ocean. The combination of silk and seacell creates a lovely light, draping fabric that is perfect for a glamorous wrap.

Tools and Equipment

To complete this project, you will need:

• 1 pair of 3.5mm needles for the main knitting
• 4mm crochet hook for finishing techniques
• Smooth scrap yarn for the provisional cast-on

Tension and Gauge

Before beginning, knit a tension swatch to ensure proper fit and drape. The pattern specifies 26 stitches and 35 rows in stocking stitch to 10cm on 3.5mm needles before blocking. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for the stole to reach its intended dimensions and to display the lace pattern correctly.

Knitting Techniques

The Sea Silk Stole employs several intermediate-level knitting techniques. The stole is begun with a provisional cast-on, a method that allows stitches to be picked up later for knitting in two directions outwards from the center. This two-directional construction creates a balanced, symmetrical design. The pattern features lace work throughout, which requires attention to yarn overs and decreases to create the openwork design.

Stitches and Abbreviations

The pattern uses the following key stitches and abbreviations:

• K – knit stitch
• P – purl stitch
• Yo – yarn over (creates a new stitch and an eyelet)
• Sl – slip stitch
• Ssk – slip 1 knitwise, slip 1 knitwise, knit 2 together through back of loop (a left-leaning decrease)
• Sk2po – slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over (a centered double decrease)
• Cdd – central double decrease: slip 2 stitches together, knit 1, pass slipped stitches over
• Tbl – through back of loop
• Tog – work stitches together
• Rep – repeat
• Sts – stitches
• RS – right side

Pattern Format and Instructions

The lace pattern is presented in both chart and written form, allowing knitters to choose their preferred method of following instructions. Charts provide a visual representation of the stitches and their placement, while written instructions spell out each row in detail. This dual-format approach makes the pattern accessible to knitters with varying preferences and experience levels.

Skill Level

Rated as an intermediate project, the Sea Silk Stole requires competence with lace knitting, provisional cast-ons, and two-directional construction. Knitters should be comfortable reading charts or written lace instructions and managing yarn overs and decreases with precision. The use of premium yarns and the glamorous finished result reward the intermediate-level effort required.