Swatch Medallion Haiku Now!

The new version of the Medallion shrug pattern won’t be available until December or January, but you can swatch Medallion now and be ready!  Even if you don’t have the Anzula Haiku you want to make your Medallion Shrug in, give the stitch pattern a try now, and master it before you start on the real thing.

Medallion Lace Concept

I originally planned the Medallion shrug design to show how to get the most out of repetitions in eyelet patterns. I am always intrigued by the dissection of stitch patterns.  I like finding different elements within a pattern, and especially what happens when they are used repetitively. Swatch Medallion to get a sense of all that this pattern has to offer.

I liked the idea of a flat piece of knitting, but rectangular shawls can be hard to wear, so I buttoned it into a shrug.  By using buttons, it can be a rectangular shawl with gathered ends or a shrug. The original version was still a little difficult to wear as a shrug because it was too loose at the cuff.

The revised pattern resolves those issues.  It features smaller cuffs, above which there are both gathers and increases to the full width of the shawl.  A change in gauge necessitated a bit of change in how the pattern repetitions unfold.  I also took the opportunity to make the shrug in two pieces which fit together as mirrors.  This is a little easier than reversing all the patterning from the center back.  I also simplified the edging and the attaching of the button loops.  Apparently no one likes sewing on 36 buttons; only a dozen are fully functional, so you don’t have to have them all.  As you swatch Medallion, you don’t need buttons at all, but I always like to use my swatches to practice finishing techniques when that moment comes.

Swatch Medallion in Haiku

This updated version is done in Haiku from Anzula Luxury Yarns. You can meet the yarn on their blog on October 17! The gauge numbers you need to for the Medallion Haiku shrug are below.  I used Addi Lace circular needles, but that is because I like pointy tips. The pointy tips aren’t necessary. I recommend using markers. I have set up the pattern so you can place markers and work the stitch patterns between the markers. I think this is exceptionally helpful in eyelets or lace, but I notice I do it because it allows me to see quickly what is happening in my knitting, whatever my knitting is. Placing a lifeline between pattern row repetitions might also save you some time.

• 4.75 sts/in and 6.25 rows/in or 19 sts/4″ and 25 rows/4″ in Stockinette on US size 6[4mm] needles
• 4.5 sts/in and 5.5 rows/in or 18 sts/4″ and 22 rows/4″ in Medallion Eyelet pattern on US size 6[4mm] needles

Working the first stitch pattern repeat will give you sufficient stockinette to take gauge for that and the Medallion Eyelet pattern.

 Swatch Medallion Eyelet Stitch Pattern

In a swatch, you can learn everything you need to know about the eyelet pattern. You can work this large swatch so you can see how all the pieces come together.  These are the things I think are interesting in this pattern:

1. The SSK and k2tog are used to create clear directional lines on either side of a central stitch.
2. Every YO is matched to a decrease—where double decreases are used, the YO sits on either side.  The stitch count is constant.
3. There feels like a shift in the direction of the pattern in the second half, but it is the framing stitches that shift direction, not the pattern itself.

The primary shape is the Medallion eyelet, but when the pattern is repeated side by side and above, other shapes begin to appear.

Once mastered, you can work this pattern without slavishly following the written pattern, which is always a goal of mine!

If you don’t wish to work the full Medallion swatch instructions, here is the stitch pattern alone.

Medallion Eyelet
Multiple of 22 sts plus 2

Row 1 [RS]:  K1, *YO, SSK, k8, YO, SK2P, YO, k9; repeat from * to last st, end k1
Row 2 and all Even Rows:  Purl
Row 3:  K1, *k1, YO, SSK, k5, k2tog, YO, k3, YO, SSK, k5, k2tog, YO; repeateat from * to last st, end k1
Row 5:  K1, *k2, YO, SSK, k3, (k2tog, YO) 2 times, k1, (YO, SSK) 2 times, k3, k2tog, YO, k1; repeat from * to last st, end k1
Row 7:  K1, *k3, YO, SSK, k1, (k2tog, YO) 2 times, k3, (YO, SSK) 2 times, k1, k2tog, YO, k2; repeat from * to last st, end k1
Row 9:  K1, *k4, YO, k3tog, YO, (k2tog, YO) 2 times, k1, (YO, SSK) 2 times, YO, SSSK, YO, k3; repeat from * to last st, end k1
Row 11:  K1, *k4, (k2tog, YO) 3 times, k3, (YO, SSK) 3 times, k3; repeat from * to last st, end k1
Row 13:  K1, *k3, (k2tog, YO) 4 times, k1, (YO, SSK) 4 times, k2; repeat from * to last st, end k1
Row 15:  K1, *k2, (k2tog, YO) 4 times, k3, (YO, SSK) 4 times, k1; repeat from * to last st, end k1
Row 17:  K1, *k1, (k2tog, YO) 5 times, k1, (YO, SSK) 5 times; repeat from * to last st, end k1
Row 19:  K1, *YO, SSSK, YO, (k2tog, YO) 3 times, k3, (YO, SSK) 3 times, YO, k2tog, YO; repeat from * to last st, end k1
Row 21:  K1, *k2, YO, SSSK, YO, (k2tog, YO) 3 times, k1, (YO, SSK) 3 times, YO, k3tog, YO; repeat from * to last st, end k1
Row 23:  K1, *k3, YO, SSSK, YO, (k2tog, YO) 2 times, k3, (YO, SSK) 2 times, YO, k3tog, YO, k2; repeat from * to last st, end k1
Row 25:  K1, *k4, YO, SSSK, YO, (k2tog, YO) 2 times, k1, (YO, SSK) 2 times, YO, k3tog, YO, k3; repeat from * to last st, end k1
Row 27:  K1, *k5, YO, SSSK, YO, k2tog, YO, k3, YO, SSK, YO, k3tog, YO, k4; repeat from * to last st, end k1
Row 29:  K1, *k6, YO, SSSK, YO, k2tog, YO, k1, YO, SSK, YO, k3tog, YO, k5; repeat from * to last st, end k1
Row 31:  K1, *k7, YO, SSSK, YO, k3, YO, k3tog, YO, k6; repeat from * to last st, end k1
Row 33:  K1, *k8, YO, SSSK, YO, k1, YO, k3tog, YO, k7; repeat from * to last st, end k1
Row 35:  K1, *k9, YO, SSK, k1, k2tog, YO, k8; repeat from * to last st, end k1

Repeat Rows 1 through 36.

Don’t forget to download the full swatch instructions!  Medallion Haiku Blog Swatch

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