Dancing Birds of Paradise by Aino Haikala

Dancing Birds of Paradise

Knitting
August 2011
Lace ?
16 stitches and 36 rows = 4 inches
in leaf pattern
US 4 - 3.5 mm
750 - 850 yards (686 - 777 m)
one size and notes about modularity
English
This pattern is available as a free Ravelry download

“Birds of Paradise are the most unique
looking birds. Many Bird of Paradise species
have elaborate mating dances in which the
males show off their colourful feathers for
their possible mate. This shawl was inspired
by a desire to knit something different
in lace.”

Materials:
Teetee Elegant 50 g / 500 m (546 yards) (70 % wool, 30 % silk) or any other similar yarn.

This shawl has also been tested using fingering weight yarn.

The total amount of yarn needed: 780 yards.
450 beads (optional)

Needle size:
3,5 mm (US 4) needles.

Difficulty:
Intermediate +
This pattern has charts only, there are no written instructions. The body pattern is simple but the birds in the border have 20 rows of lace in the wrong side (purl rows).

Gauge:
16 sts/36 rows = 10 cm in leaf pattern on size 3,50 mm needles with lace weight yarn
Exact gauge is not important but do note that a looser gauge will result in the use of more yardage.

Finished Size:
170 cm (67 inches) across by 80 cm (31 inches) down

Modularity:
You can change the size of this shawl by knitting different amounts of the leaf pattern. One repeat of the transition chart needs three leaves and both sides of the transition
chart need a half leaf. So work leaf chart always multiple of three times + 1 (such as 13, 16 or 19 times).

Structure
Dancing Birds of Paradise was inspired by a desire to knit something different in lace. It’s still nature inspired, as shawl designs often are, but instead of flowers or leaves I
chose to knit little birds. The edge pattern is unique and was designed for this pattern from scratch. The shawl is triangular. The shawl knitted from the center of the neck and outwards.