Donita Sparks by Lesley Anne Robinson

Donita Sparks

Knitting
October 2021
Fingering (14 wpi) ?
15 stitches and 18 rows = 4 inches
in two-color brioche stitch pattern knit flat, taken after blocking
US 4 - 3.5 mm
800 yards (732 m)
One size: 55” / 140 cm wide and 30” / 76 cm deep, measured after blocking
English
This pattern is available for $8.00 USD buy it now

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Yarn kits : Check out Stunning String Studio for kits using the same colors as my sample! These kits are on sale for $49 through October 31st, and they have tons of color options to choose from!!

Donita Sparks : A symmetrical triangle-shaped shawl knit from the top down, with an all-over diamond and ladder pattern, knit using the two-color brioche stitch.

I was inspired by the stitch pattern in one of my previous shawls, Donita. I named this shawl for the lead singer of one of my favorite bands, L7. Her full name is Donita Sparks, the namesake for this shawl.

Grab 2 skeins of fingering weight yarn for this delightfully repetitive and addicting shawl! I cast this on as my vacation knitting over the summer while visiting family, and it was easy for me to memorize and see the stitch pattern grow with the shawl. I recommend a light color for your MC and a dark color for your CC if you want the stitch pattern to really POP like mine. I went for semi-solid colors, but speckles or variegated yarns work very well! See last photo here for a photo of my yarn before I wound it up.

Patreon Perk:
This is the FREE October pattern for Intermediate Patrons and above!

Skill Level:
Intermediate. Brioche increases and decreases are used to create the stitch pattern, including 2 increases, and 3 decreases. It is very repetitive.

This pattern has both written instructions, as well as charts for all sections.

Techniques Used:
knit, purl, brioche knit, brioche purl, brioche increases and decreases, top-down symmetrical triangle shawl shaping, twisted german cast on, elastic bind off

Video tutorial for “br4st dec”: https://bit.ly/Br4stDec

Construction Notes:
This symmetrical triangle-shaped shawl is knit from the top down from cast on to bind off edge, with increases along the right and left edges, as well as in the center of the shawl. Brioche increases add 8 stitches on every MS MC row, with 2 stitches at each edge and 4 stitches at the center. The shawl begins with a geometric diamond stitch pattern, which grows with the shawl. The diamond stitch pattern continues as the shawl grows, until the end where a simple border pattern is created to accentuate the 4-stitch increase. This shawl is so simple to modify by adding or omitting pattern repeats!

I love wearing this shawl kerchief-style, with the top edge wrapped around my neck and the bottom bind off edge
hanging down.

» One Size:
55” / 140 cm wide and 30” / 76 cm deep, measured after blocking.

» Gauge:
15 sts and 18 rows = 4” / 10 cm (measured in two-color brioche stitch pattern knit flat, taken after blocking)

MATERIALS:

» Yarn: Fingering / sock weight
800 yds / 732 m
Main Color (MC): 400 yds / 366 m
Contrast Color (CC): 400 yds / 366 m

» Shown in: Stunning String Studio Serenity (80%
Superwash Merino, 20% Silk; 400 yds / 366 m per
100 g)
MC: 1 skein in Reflecting Pool (green-blue)
CC: 1 skein in Wild Berries (fuchsia)

» Needles:
40” / 101.5 cm US 4 / 3.5 mm circular needles

Circular needles are used for brioche knitting, and to accommodate a large number of stitches.

Adjust needle size as needed to obtain proper gauge.

» Tools:
tapestry needle for weaving in ends, row counter or preferred method for keeping track of pattern, cable needle or locking stitch marker for use with decreasing stitches, 1 stitch marker for noting center stitch

I want to thank my amazing Tech Editor, Meaghan Schmaltz, for her efforts and expertise. And a HUGE thank you to my awesome test knitters!!! Be sure to check out their projects for some serious color inspiration!!