This design is all about color and contrast. A neutral main color might seem like the obvious choice, but I wanted to test a theory: Any color can be a neutral. It’s all about balance. With a solid background and ever-changing stripes, the Opal Stole plays with perspective, proving that color is as much about proportion as it is about hue.

Designed for advanced beginners and beyond, this pattern is much easier than it looks. The lace is intuitive, always with a resting row, and the short stitch repeats make it easy to memorize. And take my advice—weave in your ends as you go! (I didn’t, and I regretted it.)

The finished stole is light and airy. Perfect for the office, an evening at the theater, or a breezy night at the beach.

Size
Finished Measurements:
Length: 74 in/ 187.5 cm
Width: 10 (30) in/25 (75) cm

Needles
1 US Size 4 (3.5 mm) 24 in/60 cm circular needle or size needed to obtain gauge

Gauge
18.5 Sts and 28.5 rows per 4 in/ 10 cm in Contrast Stripes pattern

Block swatch before measuring gauge

Yarn:
Fingering-weight yarn

Main Color: 707 yards/ 647 meters
Contrast Colors(x26): 15 (46.5) yard/14 (42.5) meter 10 g mini skeins or scrap yarns

Sample Yarn:
Main Color: Opal 4-fach Pullover & Sockenwolle: Die Sinne Verstricken (Entangle the Senses) 75% virgin wool, 25% polyamide, 465 yards/425 meters per 100g skein, in colorway Orange

Contrast Color(x 26): Opal 4-fach Pullover & Sockenwolle, 75% virgin wool, 25% nylon, 46.5 yards/ 42.5 meters per 10g skein

Color Suggestions:
The nice thing about this stole is that anything goes in terms of selecting your yarn. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Use 26 different colors for your stripes. Solids, speckles, or variegated will work.

• Try using a single solid color for your stripes and a long gradient for your MC.

• Use a solid MC and select one or two different colors for your stripes for a more limited color palette. 200g should be just about enough of contrasting colors.

• Try using a bright color for the MC and neutrals for the stripes, or do the reverse.