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Lillie of the Valley Stole
Design by Donna Druchunas

Last year, I took an Estonian lace knitting class from Nancy Bush. We learned how to knit the Lilly of the Valley pattern and make nupps (Estonian bobbles). I got so addicted to knitting this stitch, which is quite easy to memorize, that I went home, rolled some Koigu into balls and started knitting. When my stole was longer than I am tall, I decided I'd better finish it off and add a border. I didn't have much of the main color yet, so I picked out a contrasting "almost solid" color to coordinate.

Skill Level
Intermediate

Finished Size
Approx 19" wide by 64" long, blocked

Materials
MC: 6 skeins of Koigu Painter's Palette Premium Merino (KPPPM) Multis, 100% Premium Merino Wool, 50g/176yds
CC: 3 skeins of Koigu Premium Merino (KPM) Solids, 100% Premium Merino Wool, 50g/176yds
Size 3 US (3.25 mm) straight and 32"-long circular needles
A few yards of scrap yarn
4 stitch markers, 1 in a contrasting color
Size E-4 US (3.5 mm) crochet hook for provisional CO

Gauge
1 rep of Chart A (Lilly of the Valley Stitch) = approx 2-½" wide by 4" tall, blocked

Note:
Slip first st of every row with yarn in front as if to purl. Knit last st of every row through back loop. This will create a smooth, chain along the edges of the knitting, making it easier to pick up stitches for the border.

Center
With crochet hook and scrap yarn, chain approx 85 sts.
With MC and straight needles, pick up 77 sts in the bumps on the back of the crochet chain.

Bottom edge
Row 1 (RS): Sl1, knit to last st, k1-tbl.
Rep row 1 another 5 times.

Set up pattern
Row 1 (RS): Sl1, k2, place marker (pm), work chart A row 1 across to last 3 sts, pm, k2, k1-tbl.
Row 2 (WS): Sl2, k2, slip marker (sm), k1, chart A row 2 across to last 3 sts, sm, k2, k1-tbl.

Tip: The purl in the chart acts as a marker between pattern reps.

Download Chart A
(Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view.)

Continue in patterns as established slipping markers as you come to them, until you have completed rows 1 through 28 of chart A 14 times, then work rows 1 through 14 once more.

Top edge
Row 1 (RS): Sl1, knit to last st, k1-tbl.
Rep row 1 another 5 times—202 rows worked.
Remove markers. Do not BO. Change to CC.

Border
Top: Place contrasting color marker to denote beginning of round. Knit across top of center section, inc 5 sts evenly—82 sts on top edge.

Left Side: Place marker, working across left edge of center section; *in next edge stitch, insert needle under both strands and pick up 1 st; in next edge stitch, insert needle under the back strand and pick up 1 st then insert the needle under both strands and pick up 1 st (3 sts picked up in 2 edge sts). Rep from * to last 2 sts, pick up 1 st in each of last 2 sts—302 sts on side.

Bottom: Carefully remove the crochet chain and put the 77 live stitches on a needle. Place marker, knit across the bottom edge, inc 5 sts evenly—82 sts on bottom edge.

Right Side: Place marker, pick up sts as for left side—302 sts on side, 768 sts total.

Tip: If you’re a couple of stitches off, don’t panic. Just fudge on the first row and increase or decrease as necessary to make the pattern work out evenly.

Work chart B around entire edge, starting with corner stitch after slipping contrasting marker.

Download Chart B
(Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view.)

After all rnds of chart have been worked, add a second strand of CC and BO as follows: K2, insert left needle into the front of these 2 sts and knit them tog—1 st rem on right needle. *K1 more st, insert the left needle into the 2 sts on the right needle and knit them tog—1 st rem on right needle. Rep from * until all sts are bound off. Fasten off.

Finishing
Weave in ends.

To block, soak shawl in tepid water until it is thoroughly wet. Spread it out on a flat surface such as a blocking board or a sheet on carpet, and pin it to dimensions, placing one pin at the tip of each point on the border. Allow the shawl to dry thoroughly and unpin.

Donna Druchunas learned to knit before she could read. After working for 12 years as a technical writer, she decided to combine her interest in knitting with her skill at writing easy-to-follow instructions. She is the author of The Knitted Rug: 21 Fantastic Designs (Lark Books, 2004) and Arctic Lace: Knitting Projects and Stories Inspired by Alaska's Native Knitters. Her designs and articles have been featured in Family Circle Easy Knitting, Knitters, Interweave Knits, Creative Knitting, and INKnitters magazines. Visit her website at www.sheeptoshawl.com

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