Whenever I think of lace traditions, I go back to what I consider my roots: Orenburg. My first lace-knitting class was with Galina Khmeleva in 2010. She called me “Katia” all day, and I fell in love with her stories and the clever elements and construction of gossamer shawls.
My personal life over the last year has been undergoing change, and this piece represents that. Some parts are moving at lightning speed, yet in other aspects I’m learning to slow down, listen, and enjoy the beauty around me. This stole is of the Orenburg tradition with gossamer construction using Diagonal, Strawberry, and Mouse Print patterns.
Katrina King chose a blend of silk and cashmere for her gorgeous stole. It’s sure to become a family heirloom. Photos by George Boe.
Materials:
Treenway Silks Gōkana, 80% bombyx silk/20% cashmere yarn, laceweight, 1,570 yard (1435.6 m)/100 gram (3.5 oz) skein, 1 skein of #213 Celadon
Signature Needle Arts Needle, size 2 (2.75 mm), 20 inches (50 cm) circ or size needed to obtain gauge
Markers, 2, contrasting colors
Small tapestry needle
Blocking wires or nylon cord and T-pins
Finished size: 70 inches (177.8 cm) long and 33 inches (83.8 cm) wide, including edging, after blocking
Gauge: 23½ sts and 31½ rows = 4 inches (10.2 cm) in body patt
—Katrina King
Katrina King has yet to meet a fiber craft she doesn’t like. Along with lace knitting, she also has crochet, weaving, spinning laceweight yarn, and tatting in her tool bag. You can follow her craft adventures at www.threadeddreamstudio.wordpress.com. When she’s not crafting, she can be found teaching at her local yarn shops, volunteering at the Blue Moose Art Gallery, and chasing her daughters to various activities in and around Fort Collins, Colorado.
Knit your own shawl inspired by the lace traditions of Orenburg. Download a copy of PieceWork’s Fall 2018 issue. Plus, discover another Orenburg-style knitted shawl in our blog post, “Knitting Orenburg and Santa Fe Together.”
Featured Image: Detail of Katrina King’s Orenburg-style knitted shawl.