Nancy Whitman Patterns

Mind Over Miter is a modular garter stitch shawl that uses decreases and a three needle bind off to create unusual mitered stripes. Amply sized, the shawl is large enough to be worn on its own or fit under a coat. The garter stitch makes for easy knitting and a cosy fabric. Four colors are used - two for the borders and two for the interior stripes. The knitting is pretty straightforward, but creates a complex looking shawl.

Example shown in Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light, 100% superwash merino, 420 yards per skein, 1 skein each Iris (OBC), Grasshopper (C2) and Medieval (IBC), 2 skeins Antler (C1). Actual yardage used is approximately 180 yards OBC, 580 yards C1, 405 yards of C2, and 175 yards IBC.

Blocked Measurements

Neck edge width: approximately 65"/165cm

Center depth: approximately 27.5"/70cm

Minoan is an easy to knit shawl with a slip stitch pattern that creates intricate looking color work achieved with only one color per row. It is worked from the top down starting with a garter stitch tab. The body of the shawl is worked in stockinette stitch with garter stitch borders. Four increases are worked on right side rows and two edge increases are worked on wrong side rows to create a shawl that grows in width faster than it grows in length. The multicolored section is charted with a clear explanation of how to work the slip stitch pattern. Minoan is completed with a unique garter stitch bind off to create a continuous border around all sides.

Two Sizes: 56" (61") wide x 17.5" (21") deep

Shown in Madelinetosh Tosh DK, 1(2) skein of Graphite, 1 each of Tart and Winter Wheat.

Piet on Point was inspired by the work of Dutch painter Piet Mondrian. By rotating his work so it sat on point, it fit well with a triangular shawl shape. Piet on Point is worked modularly, in three panels, which are joined with a three-needle purl bind off. Broad borders frame the interior just like a picture frame on a painting. The shawl is worked in garter stitch making it squishy and cosy!

Finished Measurements: 60" x 27.25"

Notions required but not included: 4 large stitch holders, stitch markers, tapestry needle

Shown in Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light, 1 skein each Antler (C1), Robin Red Breast (C2), Silver Fox (C3), Winter Wheat (C4), Lapis (C5) and Onyx (BC). Approximate yardage used by color is 160 yards C1, 65 yards C2, 125 yards C3, 189 yards C4, 226 yards C5 and 429 yards BC.

Pipes is a bias knit garter stitch shawl that is made up of two simple rows of knitting with increases worked at the start of every right side row. Just when you are ready for something more than rows of garter stitch, you begin the striped "pipe" section. Ten of the pipes have extensions that connect them to the next pipe. Extensions are worked over four rows using intarsia for color changes. The shawl is completed with a second main color section.

Blocked Measurements

Width: approximately 63"/180 cm

Center depth: approxi. 26"

Actual yardage used is approx. 390 yards in MC, 158 yards in CC and the following pipe colors:

29 yards each C1 and C2

39 yards each C3 and C4

43 yards each C5, C6, and C7

46 yards each C8, C9, C10, and C11

The undulating curves of Tappan Zee suggest the movement of the water below and the eyelet band is the lights on the bridge at night. This is the bridge from Nancy's childhood, but it could easily be the Golden Gate Bridge, Sydney Harbor Bridge, Tower Bridge or Brooklyn Bridge. Tappan Zee is worked from the top down starting with a garter stitch tab. Increasing 6 stitches on every right side row, three at each side, gives Tappan Zee its wide crescent shape. The slipped stitch pattern means you only use one color in a row making this look much more complicated than it really is.

Whitman Sampler may not be a chocolate confection, but it is a knitted one. Two separate strips are knit on the bias and then joined together with a three-needle purl bind off. Decorative rolled stockinette edges are picked up and knit in the round to complete the cowl. Each strip begins with two cast-on stitches, which are increased into a triangle, followed by stripes and borders. Some of the borders are plain and others have a simple slipped stitch design to make them more interesting.

Finished Measurements: 6.5" x 48"

Shown in Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light, 100% superwash merino, 420 yards per skein, 1 skein each Dahlia (C1), Jade (C2), Glazed Pecan (C3), Cobalt (C4), and Onyx (BC). Actual yardage used is approximately 140 yards of C1, 110 yards each of C2, C3, C4, and 155 yards of BC.

Yarden is a beautiful top-down shawl in two colors written for either fingering or DK weight yarn. Shown in Pashmina, this piece alternates plain stockinette sections with a fun lace pattern that naturally scallops.

Finished Measurements: 58" (56") wide x 24" (21") deep

1 skein each of two colors in fingering weight or 2 skeins of MC + 1 skein of CC in DK weight is required.