Malice In Wonderland started life as an MKAL on the Criminal Knits group. It is now also the title of my first ever knitting mystery, available as an e-book and a paperback on Amazon. link text

To celebrate the book going live, we’ll be doing a new KAL that will begin Sept. 8 and will run for 5 weeks.

Malice in Wonderland is a voluptuously overlarge half PI lace shawl worked in 2 colors.

You can go absolutely wild with Malice on one of the 2 colors, but pick a solid for the second color and BE WARNED…

… the second color will be used on a multiplicity of lace stitches that ARE NOT FOR THE LACE BEGINNER. (You should have some experience working lace patterns before attempting Malice. They don’t need to have been hard patterns but you should know what lace is before starting this shawl, especially as ONE of the lace patterns is worked on BOTH SIDES.)

The first (wilder) color also involves lace, but it is more sedate and can handle just about anything you want to work her in!

YARN and Materials INFO:

You will need a minimum of 840 yds of a wild/variegated fingering weight yarn.

I recommend trying yarn from Dragonfly Fibers. If you have never used it before you are in for a real treat. This yarn is AMAZING!!! (see link below) Kate will be dying your yarn custom so please let her know it is for Malice. Her turn around time is very fast, but don’t wait until the last minute in case she runs out of whatever base you want to use. Just be sure to choose a fingering weight yarn. Her new merino is wonderful as is her djinni sock.

Dragonfly Fibers: link text

You will ALSO NEED… a minimum of 750 yds of a complimentary solid color fingering weight yarn

I used Malabrigo Arroyo another ridiculously soft and squishy yarn.

The solid color will be the heavy duty lace parts. The variegated part does have lace, but it’s a simple pattern and is quite happy in a wild yarn color.

When choosing your yarns please err on the side of caution and be sure to have plenty.

We will be using Size 7 40” circular needles. You can start the shawl on a shorter length, like a 24” and then switch when it starts to get big if the longer cord will annoy you.

You will need markers. I suggest you use markers that STAY PUT, as there will be yo’s that disappear, or that you miss, or that move somewhere else - I mean, this is lace!

You will also need something to use for life lines… lots and lots of life lines. So lay in a large supply of whatever you like to use.

This shawl uses a total of 1590 fingering weight yards.

Unblocked and using size 7 needles, gauge is 5 1/2 stitches per inch in stockinette using fingering weight yarn, although gauge is not hugely important it shouldn’t be wildly different!