Fforest Fawr
Sprinkled with graceful leaves, this intarsia cape captures the spirit of the Welsh countryside
DECORATED WITH graceful leaves, this intarsia cape by Sasha Kagan is constructed from a series of panels, and has a lace edging. “I discovered that by knitting a set of double increases at either side of a central spine, I could make the leaves fly off in opposite directions!” says Sasha. We have suggested an alternative colourway for the shawl on page 3.
STITCH PATTERNS MOSS STITCH
(over an odd number of sts) Row 1: (K1, P1) to last st, K1. Rep Row 1 for pattern.
BORDER CHART
Row 1 (WS): K1, yo, P2tog, yo twice, K2tog, yo, P2tog, K1, yo twice, K2tog, yo twice, K2tog, K1. Row 2: K3, P1, K2, P1, K1, yo, P2tog, K1, P1, K1, yo, P2tog, knit last st of border with next st of shawl. Row 3: K1, yo, P2tog, K2tog, K1, yo, P2tog, K3, yo twice, K2tog, yo twice, K2tog, K1. Row 4: K3, P1, K2, P1, K3, yo, P2tog, K2, yo, P2tog, knit last st of border with next st of shawl. Row 5: K1, yo, P2tog, yo twice, K2tog, yo, P2tog, K5, yo twice, K2tog, yo twice, K2tog, K1. Row 6: K3, P1, K2, P1, K5, yo, P2tog, K1, P1, K1, yo, P2tog, knit last st of border with next st of shawl. Row 7: K1, yo, P2tog, K2tog, K1, yo, P2tog, K7, yo twice, K2tog, yo twice, K2tog, K1. Row 8: K3, P1, K2, P1, K7, yo, P2tog, K2, yo, P2tog, knit last st of border with next st of shawl. Row 9: K1, yo, P2tog, yo twice, K2tog, yo, P2tog, K9, yo twice, K2tog, yo twice, K2tog, K1. Row 10: K3, P1, K2, P1, K9, yo, P2tog, K1, P1, K1, yo, P2tog, knit last st of border with next st of shawl. Row 11: K1, yo, P2tog, K2tog, K1, yo, P2tog, K16. Row 12 (RS): Cast off 10 stitches, knit until there are 6 sts on RH needle, yo, P2tog, K2, yo, P2tog, knit last st of border with next st of shawl.
LEAF PATTERN
The Leaf charts are worked using the intarsia technique in a sequence of colours: yarn C alternates with yarn F, and yarn E alternates with yarn B. Note that when working the side panels as you increase, the first leaf will be worked in the opposite colour to that of the last row in the same colour procession.
SIDE SECTIONS
(make 2) Using 3.75mm needles and yarn A, cast on 11 sts. Row 1 (WS): P4, pm, P3, pm, P4. Row 2 (RS): K3, yo, knit to mrk, yo, slm, K3, slm, yo, knit to last 3 sts, yo, K3. 15 sts. Row 3: Purl. Rep rows 2 and 3 twice more. 23 sts.
BEGIN CHARTS
Row 1 (RS): *K3, work row 1 of PanelAtoA to marker, slm, K3, slm, work row 1 of Panel B to last 3 sts, K3. Cont as set until all 68 rows of PanelA A and Panel B have been completed. Cont in patt as set in Rows 1-68, workingking colours of the next row of leavesolls:asfolls: Panel A: (yarn F, yarn C) twice,nyarnF. F. Panel B: (yarn C, yarn F) twice,nyarnC. C.
Work the following row of leaves as: Panels A and B: (yarn B, yarn E)mes.3times.
Work the final row of leaves as: Panel A: (yarn C, yarn F) 3 times,rnyarnC. C. Panel B: (yarn F, yarn C) 3 times,rnyarnF. F.
Cont as set, increasing at both endsof of every RS row until 118 rows of PanelA A and B have been completed. 259 sts. Place sts on holder, keeping markerssin in work.
CENTRE PANEL
Using 3.75mm needles and yarn A, cast on 63 sts. Work Panel C for a total of 136 rows, repeating from Row 1 after you reach h Row 34. Place sts on holder.
MAKING UP
Weave loose ends back into their own colours. Sew Side Panels to either side of Centre Panel using the blocking diagram as a guide, easing slightly into seam.
NECKBAND
With RS facing, using 2.75mm needles and yarn A, pick up and knit 11 sts from cast-on edge of one Side Panel, 63 sts from cast-on edge of Centre Panel, and 11 sts from cast-on edge of second Side Panel. 85 sts. Row 1 (WS): P11, (P5, P2tog) 8 times, purl to end. 77 sts. Row 2 (RS): (K1, P1) twice, K3tog tbl, (P1, K1) to last 8 sts, P1, K3tog, (P1, K1) twice. 73 sts. Work 4cm more in moss st. Cast off in patt.
CAPE BORDER
Note: Read Border Chart from left to right on odd rows and right to left on even rows. Odd rows are the WS of the shawl. With RS facing and using 3.75mm circular needles, place sts from holders as follows: 128 sts from Panel A, pm, 3 sts from between Panels A and B, 128 sts from Panel B, pm, 63 sts from Centre Panel, pm, 128 sts from Panel A, pm, 3 sts from between Panels A and B, 128 sts from Panel B. 587 sts; 4 total markers in place. Note: The Border Chart is joined to the body of the shawl once every RS row, except at marker (corner) edges, where it is joined once every 4 rows. Using yarn A, cast on 13 sts to beg of circular needles.
Next row (RS of shawl): K12, knit last st together with first held st of shawl. Cont as follows, removing markers as you reach them: Staring with Row 1 (a WS row), work Border Chart until all sts for shawl to next marker have been used, ending after a joining row. Marker (corner) edge: (Work 3 rows without joining Border to Shawl, work 1 row with joining stitch) three times, for a total of 12 Border rows worked and 3 sts joined to shawl in the stitches between panels A and B. *Work Border Chart as normal to next marker, ending after a joining row. Work 3 rows without joining Border to Shawl, work 1 row with joining stitch, for a total of 4 rows worked and 1 st joined to shawl. Rep from * once more. Work Border Chart until all sts for shawl to next marker have been used, ending after a joining row.
Marker (corner) edge: (Work 3 rows without joining Border to Shawl, work 1 row with joining stitch) three times, for a total of 12 Border rows worked and 3 sts joined to shawl in the stitches
Alternative colourway
Rowan Felted Tweed A Maritime (167); 7 x 50g balls Plus 1 x 50g ball each of: B Celadon (184); C Peony (183); D Bilberry (151); E Mineral (181); F Avocado (161) between Panels A and B.
Work Border Chart as normal until 1 st rem for shawl, ending after a WS row.
Cast off 23 sts, then, using the last border st and the last live st on the main body, K2tog and cast off.
FINISHING
Weave in ends and block gently to measurements, following any yarn care instructions on the ball band.