Flint

Flint Knitted Lace Shawl by Hannah Smith

What Is Being Made

Flint is a triangular knitted shawl designed by independent designer Hannah Smith. The shawl features a distinctive lace pattern inspired by stone arrowheads, which inspired both its name and the choice of dusty plum colorway. This top-down triangular design combines decorative lace repeats with a simple edging that frames the diamond shape of the final lace repeat, creating a finished geometric silhouette.

Design Inspiration and Construction

The Flint pattern originated from Hannah Smith's exploration of various lace patterns while working on deciphering her grandmother's handwritten knitting patterns. The lace motif developed during this creative process became the foundation for this triangular shawl design. The pattern's visual resemblance to stone arrowheads informed both the project's name and the selection of the Dusty Plum colorway, which enhances the stone-like aesthetic.

Knitting Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs lace knitting techniques as its primary focus. The shawl is worked from the top down, a construction method that offers practical advantages for customization. Lace patterning is integrated throughout the body of the shawl, with repeating diamond motifs that progress as the piece grows from the top edge toward the bottom.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The design features a custom lace pattern composed of diamond-shaped repeats. A simple edging is incorporated to finish the final diamond repeat and complete the triangular shape. The lace pattern uses standard knitting decreases and yarn overs to create the openwork design characteristic of lace knitting.

Yarn and Materials

Primary Yarn: Bendigo Tweed from Bendigo Woollen Mills in colorway 597 Dusty Plum (2 x 200g balls)

Yarn Weight: DK weight (also known as 8ply), a versatile medium weight suitable for drape and stitch definition in lace patterns.

Alternative Yarn Options: The pattern accommodates easy yarn substitution with other standard DK/8ply weight yarns. Suggested alternatives include Rowan Felted Tweed DK (5 balls) or Debbie Bliss Erin Tweed (5 balls), allowing knitters flexibility in fiber choice while maintaining pattern integrity.

Fiber Composition: The recommended yarn contains 75% wool with 15% manufactured fiber content, providing warmth, elasticity, and durability typical of quality tweed yarns.

Tools Required: Knitting needles appropriate for DK weight yarn (specific needle size determined by pattern gauge).

Customization and Length Modification

A key advantage of the top-down construction method is the ease of length customization. Knitters can modify the finished shawl size by simply stopping the pattern when the desired length is achieved, eliminating the need to calculate yardage adjustments or rework the pattern structure. This flexibility makes Flint suitable for knitters with varying yardage availability or personal length preferences.

Skill Level

Flint is rated as an intermediate-level knitting project, suitable for knitters with experience in basic knitting techniques who are ready to work with lace patterns and their associated techniques such as yarn overs and strategic decreases.