What you'll need
| sizes: | medium | large |
|---|---|---|
| width, in: | 60 | 67.5 |
| center depth, in: | 14 | 19 |
madelinetosh tosh merino light - Ruby Slippers
|
1 | 1 |
|
madelinetosh tosh merino light - Silver Fox
|
1 | 1 |
Product Description
When I first saw the House of Cards pattern, (Barbara Walker's Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns, page 119) I was reminded of the Tappan Zee Bridge. One 28-row repeat of the pattern symbolizes the fretwork, the undulating curves suggest the movement of the water below and the eyelet band is the lights on the bridge at night. This is the bridge from my childhood, but it could easily be the Golden Gate Bridge, Sydney Harbor Bridge, Tower Bridge or Brooklyn Bridge.
Tappan Zee is worked from the top down starting with a garter stitch tab. Increasing 6 stitches on every right side row, three at each side, gives Tappan Zee its wide crescent shape. The slipped stitch pattern means you only use one color in a row making this look much more complicated than it really is.
Tappan Zee Shawl by Nancy Whitman
What Is Being Made
The Tappan Zee is a top-down triangular shawl designed by Nancy Whitman. This intermediate-level knitting project features a two-color colorwork design and is worked beginning with a small garter stitch tab that expands into a larger shawl shape. The finished shawl offers generous dimensions suitable for layering or draping.
Finished Dimensions
- Neck edge: approximately 60" [67"] in width
- Center depth: approximately 14" [19"] from neckline to point
Knitting Techniques Used
The Tappan Zee employs several intermediate knitting techniques that add visual interest and structural integrity to the finished garment. The shawl is constructed using a top-down method, beginning with a provisional cast-on and garter stitch tab foundation. The pattern incorporates two-color stranded colorwork, requiring the knitter to carry colors not in use loosely up the side of the work while twisting them in a consistent fashion to maintain even tension and prevent long floats.
Yarn overs are used strategically throughout the pattern to create shaping and lace elements as the shawl expands from the top. The pattern also utilizes slip stitches worked purlwise with the working yarn held to the front, a technique that creates clean edges and decorative details in colorwork sections.
Stitches Used
- Garter stitch (knit every row)
- Yarn overs (yo) for shaping and lace
- Slip stitch purlwise (s1) for edge definition and colorwork transitions
- Stranded colorwork for two-color pattern work
Materials Required
The Tappan Zee is knitted using Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light, a superwash merino wool yarn in a 4-ply weight. This yarn provides 420 yards per skein and offers excellent stitch definition for colorwork.
- Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light, 100% superwash merino wool
- Color requirements: 1[2] skeins Ruby Slippers (MC—main color) and 1 skein Silver Fox (CC—contrast color)
- Actual yardage used: Approximately 350 [465] yards main color and 160 [220] yards contrast color
- Needles: US #6/4 mm 40" circular needles
Pattern Notes
The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and includes two size options: Medium and Large. Knitters should use a provisional cast-on method of their choice to begin the garter stitch tab, which is then rotated and picked up to begin the main shawl construction. Careful attention to color management and consistent tension when twisting floats is important for achieving a polished finished shawl.
```Specifications
| Brand: | Independent Designer |
| Yarn Weight: | 4 Ply |
| Pages: | 6 |
| Designer: | Nancy Whitman |
| Craft: | Knitting |
| Format: | Downloadable PDF |
| Languages: | English |
| Number of Patterns: | 1 |
| Skill Level: | Intermediate |
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your experience.