The inspiration behind this pattern was pioneering aviatrix, Marvel Crosson, who had a wonderful, flirty sense of style. (You can see pictures of Marvel here on my Marvel Crosson Pinterest board.) She was the first woman to earn a pilot’s license in Alaska and was posthumously inducted into the Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame in 2011. Marvel died in a mysterious crash during the first women’s air derby in 1929.

The combination of the semi-circle formed by the stitch pattern and the stunning and icy blue of the Miss Babs Yowza! Whatta Skein remind me of an Alaskan moonrise, something Marvel might have seen up close during one of her afternoon flights. (By the way, with the jumbo Miss Babs Yowza! Whatta Skein, this is a one skein project.)

To complete the look during the photo shoot, I’m grateful to Michelle’s Assortment for the shawl pins, Carla Dawn Behrle for the custom made leather top, and the Old Rhinebeck Aerodome for the awesome background!

Skills Used
Basic knitting skills: cast on, bind off, knit, purl
Increasing (yo)
Decreasing (k3tog and p3tog)

Skill Level
Intermediate

Finished Size
57” (145 cm) x 5” (13 cm) before blocking; 69” (175 cm) x 6.5” (17 cm) after blocking.

Materials
Miss Babs Yowza! Whatta Skein! (100% superwash Merino, 8 oz/227 g, 560 yd/512 m) – 1 skein Faded, or approximately 455 yd (416 m) in any light weight yarn.

US 6/4 mm 40” (100 cm) circular needles, or any size needed to obtain correct gauge.

Yarn needle.

Stitch markers (optional).

Gauge
24 sts in pattern = 4” (10 cm) across when pinned flat but not blocked. (Exact gauge is not critical for this project.)