LightWaves by Susan Ashcroft

LightWaves

Knitting
October 2012
18 stitches = 4 inches
in stockinette
US 6 - 4.0 mm
English Swedish
This pattern is available for €3.00 EUR buy it now

Note: there are 3 files - one for the Swedish version; one for the basic pattern in English and the variations in English. Be sure to open the file you want.

Additonal info: - the pattern indicates that 40-50g of Kauni is used as the CC - that’s about 80-100m (90-110yds).


The pattern was originally designed to highlight Kauni’s colours and get them to create waves straight from the skein -but this only works if you use the right gauge and make a small shawl.

The pattern is available as the original accesssory-sized shawl (30 x 130cm - 12 x 50”) which is the size that works with the Kauni colour runs (see photo #3 for an idea of the size).

There is a separate file for the variations, which includes:

  • instructions for a larger shawl (see photo #2 for an idea of the size; for this you use MC ridges to get the Kauni to work straight from the skein)
  • modifications for making contrast colour ridges
  • another ridge variation which worked well with Noro yarns
  • instructions for the no-ridges version

^^^^^^^^
Comment from one tester to another who was still working on the base:

Rest now…cause when you start with those waves, you won’t want to stop for little things like food and sleep!

^^^^^^^
There are lots of notes in the pattern but they are just for guidance; as long as you know how to wrap and turn (or are willing to learn) this is a quick and easy knit. I hope you’ll have fun making it whichever version you choose.

For the top section which will be next to the neck, I used super soft alpaca. The Kauni is kept on the bottom edge where:

a) it can be seen better
b) it can’t scratch you !

LightWaves is also available in Swedish - thanks to Malin for the Swedish version.


Credit where it’s due - I first made waves like this using Rebecca Hatcher’s Wave Cowls pattern and Rowan Colourscape. The combination of the pattern and yarn was just perfect and such fun to knit.
Ever since then I’ve been looking for a yarn that would have the right colour-run lengths to create a similar effect on a shawl. After I had made 4 projects with the Kauni, I realised that the runs would probably be about the right length. So I tried it and it worked, so I tried another, and that worked, so I got some testers to try it - and it worked again, and again.

So on that basis I am publishing the pattern. I’m afraid I can’t give you any guarantees about the Kauni runs not changing in future, but there are lots of tips for how to try to make it work straight from the skein.


Many thanks to the testers:

malin (made 2)
bfcallsmemartha (handspun)
girliecurls (who had the no-ridges idea)
googoo (sunset photos)
cushing (larger version with contrast-colour ridges)
sarahboirin (made 2)
winterfi (Waterloo sunset)
cellogirl2 (made 2)
wireknitter (no ridges version)
mainecoonmom (seperate colours for the waves)
joharvey (who made a real rainbow)
skyhooked (used Zauberball)
litoja (made one in about 3 days)
HeleenK (who did the math for the larger version - she’s a math teacher which came in very handy ! ♥ )
cdoertel (seperate skeins for the colours)
darja (mc ridges)