Monday, March 15, 2010

Lichen kerchief and bracelet - a free pattern

Last summer I came across a book at the library called Knitting Nature, a fascinating collection of knitting patterns that reflect patterns found in - well, nature. I was intrigued by Norah Gaughan's thoughts on this subject and immediately put a hold on a book that inspired her designs, The Self-Made Tapestry.


This second book is pure science, and I found it extremely difficult to understand (except for one night when I read it over ice cream and grasped every concept effortlessly, which adds more evidence to my theory that ice cream fixes everything.)

Those books are probably what made me think of lichen when I saw some yarn in exactly the shade that grows in my neck of the woods, but the fact that it was summer made me think of breezy kerchiefs and tennis.



I looked at some very appealing pictures of lichen and swatched a lot before deciding that you just can't reproduce its exact appearance in knit stitches if you are me in the summer of 2009. But you can capture two essential points:

the symmetry and, at the same time, asymmetry in so many of the world's patterns and

the way living things are all reaching out, all the time - reaching to take what we need to live, perhaps unaware that in achieving that we can be giving, too.






Download .pdf of Lichen

8 comments:

Kathleen Taylor said...

p.s. I have 4 girls who would absolutely love the kerchief.

Kathleen Taylor said...

love it!

melissa said...

you're so clever, mary!
i love the idea of knitting nature in. and i agree, lichen is very beautiful and inspiring.
i also really like these pictures of you- fun!

Anonymous said...

super cute!

Canadagirl said...

I love it ! It is perfect for the warmer months too. *grin*

Unknown said...

Very Pretty.. I love knit kerchiefs but usually find basic ones so cant wait to make this thanks for sharing ^_^

St Bernie girl said...

Mary, I see that this gorgeous pattern has been posted for well over half a decade, but it's not unusual for me to be a little behind the rest of the world (I've always thought I was born in the wrong century) ... Anyhow, I digress! It does look very nature-inspired and quite timeless, and I am with Jessica and love kerchiefs. Of course, if it does double duty it is triple handy! And I'm sure I'll be backed up on this, your ice cream theory has actually been proven scientific fact!

Mary Keenan said...

Omigosh St. Bernie, it's closer to a whole decade now! I have since revised my ice cream theory slightly to be 'ice cream with homemade hot fudge sauce' but otherwise, yes: the ultimate cheerer-up ;^)