Lunatic Fringe by Jennifer Dassau
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Craft: Knitting
Eccentric and non-conforming, Lunatic Fringe is an off-kilter shawl that grows asymmetrically from the bottom up, and sprouts digit-like fringes on one side. The fringes are knit in as you go along by repeatedly binding off and casting on, while the body features alternating textural stripes. Cast on with a few stitches, Lunatic Fringe grows by increasing unequally along both sides to the long top edge, which is finished simply with a stretchy bind off. Like a devastated remnant found in the irradiated ruins of former civilization, Lunatic Fringe represents a ravaged relic of the cyber past, featuring a slubby yarn blend which is weirdly iridescent in duo-tonal colors.
Construction
This shawl is cast on at the bottom tip, and worked to the top edge in alternating garter stitch and stockinette stitch stripes, with a 2 st garter edging on each side.
Techniques & Skills Used
longtail CO, backwards loop CO, knit, increasing; this pattern is fully written.
Size
58” length and 16” depth, with instructions for customizing.
Yarn
4 skeins, or 784 yards of aran weight yarn.
I chose a thick & thin yarn with textural interest, to accentuate the erratic nature of the shawl; handspun would create a similar effect. Any yarn and any amount may be used; see pattern instructions to adjust for differing yardage.
Other Materials
US 9/5.5mm 40” circular needle or size to match gauge
stitch markers (2)
Yarn needle
Gauge
14 st and 24 rows/4” in stockinette stitch after blocking.
Gauge is not critical for this project, however a different gauge may result in a smaller or larger finished shawl, and different yardage requirements.
Thank you to Knitty Magazine!