Faded Fringe by Larissa Brown

Faded Fringe

Knitting
December 2017
Worsted (9 wpi) ?
16 stitches and 36 rows = 4 inches
in Garter Stitch
US 8 - 5.0 mm
8.0 mm (L)
850 - 1000 yards (777 - 914 m)
20”/51 cm deep at center, excluding fringe, and 99”/251 cm wingspan; easily adjustable
English
This pattern is available for $6.00 USD buy it now

It took my 12-year-old son to point out the knitting puns in one of my favorite TV shows.

After years of watching Fringe, I hadn’t noticed the coincidence – that the series of supernatural events happening in the show is called “the pattern.” And my kid said, “Mommy, you should do a pattern for something with fringe on it.” Um, yes, I should.

A shawl with a simple repeating pattern and outrageously beautiful fringe is the result.

YARN NOTES

Choosing yarns for this shawl is a creative experience that is deeply rewarding and really enjoyable. I found adding the fringe to be a meditative stress-busting activity. And the shawl is so gorgeous, I have it hanging up as art.

The shawl body is mostly Garter stitch stripes, ending with a unique 12-row eyelet stripe pattern. Keep in mind that the body of the shawl is a progression of colors that will work together with your fringe. For that reason, I suggest neutrals in a dark-to-light progression, but another option would be a neutral fringe fade with a more colorful shawl body.

What you need:

Body = Worsted weight, 850 yards, 5 or 6 neutral colors
Fringe = Fingering weight, 200 grams, colors of your choice

BODY

Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok is a light-Worsted wool with 123 yards per 4 oz. skein, and is affordable for many budgets. A great new basic wool! As shown, A: Midnight Sea, 1 skein; B: Cast Iron, 2 skeins; C: Storm Cloud, 2 skeins; D: Grey Harbor, 1 skein; E: Highland Fleece, 1 skein; F: Drift Wood, 1 skein.

When substituting yarns, choose a progression of neutral colors from dark to light, with a total of about 850 yards/777 meters. Another great yarn for basic wool projects is Cascade 220, or you can use any lovely wool.

FRINGE

Scraps in a color progression make a gorgeous one-of-a-kind artwork. Fade kits or gradient sets will work great, too. You will need about 200 grams total.

If you want to fade your scraps, as shown:

  • you will need enough of each color to make about 100 strands, each 14” long. This is a guideline only. Don’t give up on scraps that you want to incorporate if you don’t have that much. Try options and see what happens!
  • sample uses 14 colors, blending from pale green, through grays, blues, purples, a variety of pinks, and ending on an electric lavender.

NEEDLES & TOOLS

US 8/5 mm or US 9/5.5 mm circular needle of sufficient length to hold 180 stitches; or a circular needle that results in the gauge listed

Crochet hook for fringe, size 8 mm or larger is preferable

A book or piece of cardboard with one side about 7” long

Yarn needle for sewing ends