Oat Couture’s Curlicue Coverlet

This was a fun, satisfying knit. Oat Couture says, “This beautiful coverlet is not for the faint of heart, but experienced knitters will enjoy exploring what can be done with short rows.” Exploring what can be done with short rows sums up this project perfectly. Each wedge is knit onto the next, with short rows used at both ends on the inner star of five sections. The wedges that touch the outer edge use short rows on just one side. Most clever. Most cool.

It’s smallish. Perfect as a large baby blanket or a small lap blanket. This one is knit in worsted weight at a gauge of 22 stitches per four inches. I had extra yarn so I didn’t sweat the gauge too much, but this is basically true to gauge. The stitch pattern is 4 rows: knit the first, purl the second, and knit the third and fourth.

Some knitters leave off the last four sections and end up with a really nifty shawl.  Some knit each wedge in a different variegated shade. Noro Silk Garden creates a stunning look. Others knit the inner star in one color and the rest of the sections in a complementary color. Still others have figured out how to use a two-toned treatment on that inner star. And knit up in one solid color, the changing direction of the pattern creates a quietly beautiful piece.

The photos are pre-blocking. Skeins on Main helped me out with the blocking by steaming the piece. Steaming smoothed out the curling-under outside edges and settled down a bit of bumpiness in sections of the inner star.

This is knit in a hand-dyed superwash. Rose dyed the yarn. That’s all I know about it (and her). Except that it is a beautiful colorway. I do wish I hadn’t had to consider taking out a mortgage to buy the yarn. But given the finished piece, it was worth it. Well done, Rose.