Product Description
If A Lady’s Bumbershoot had been available to her, Mary Poppins would have left her white frilly sunshade at home and carried this at the races. Pair this romantic lace with your favourite edgy colourway and industrial Victorian inspired beads. Inspired by the Pi shawl concept, this parasol is knit in the round from the centre out. Use it for shade at a summer wedding, anywhere else you want to get noticed.
The parasol is stretched onto the frame of a bamboo/paper parasol after tearing off the paper. The are inexpensive and readily available online. Example: http://www.save-on-crafts.com/paperparasol3.html
Instructions include how to modify to fit other sized frames, and the option of making this a round shawl instead.
**Please note that row gauge is fairly important in this design. If you are not getting row gauge, and consequently the length that you need, more repeats of the Umbrella lace can be worked, but be sure to have a multiple of 19 stitches on the needles when
A Lady's Bumbershoot Knitted Parasol
Project Overview
A Lady's Bumbershoot is a romantic lace parasol designed by Trisha Paetsch that transforms a functional accessory into a statement piece. Inspired by the Pi shawl concept, this intermediate-level knitting project combines delicate lace work with industrial Victorian-inspired beading for a striking contrast. The finished parasol is designed to stretch over a 28-inch bamboo parasol frame, making it suitable for shade at summer weddings or any occasion where you want to make an impression. The design draws inspiration from classic literary elegance, offering a modern twist on traditional parasol aesthetics.
Knitting Techniques
This parasol is knit in the round from the centre outward, following the Pi shawl construction method. This technique allows the piece to expand gradually in concentric circles, creating a natural radial pattern that works beautifully with lace motifs. The construction begins at the center and increases outward, which is particularly well-suited to parasol shaping. After completing the knitted piece, it is stretched onto the bamboo parasol frame after the paper covering is removed, allowing the lace to take its final elegant form.
Stitches and Stitch Patterns
The design features two primary stitch elements: stockinette stitch triangles and fan patterns created by Umbrella lace. The stockinette triangles provide structural stability and visual contrast, while the Umbrella lace creates the romantic, delicate aesthetic central to the design. The widest sections of both the stockinette triangles and the lace fans measure 1.75 inches unblocked, creating balanced proportions across the parasol's surface. The combination of solid and openwork sections allows light to filter through while maintaining structural integrity when stretched over the frame.
Yarn and Materials
- Yarn Weight: Fingering weight (4-ply)
- Yardage Required: 800 to 1120 yards (732 to 1024 meters)
- Circular Needle: US size 0 / 2 mm, 40 inches / 100 cm length or size needed to obtain gauge
- Gauge: 24 stitches × 30 rows = 4 inches / 10 centimeters in stockinette stitch
- Parasol Frame: 28-inch / 71-centimeter bamboo parasol frame (available from wedding supply stores and websites)
- Notions: Victorian-inspired beads for embellishment
Finished Dimensions
The completed parasol stretches to fit a 28-inch diameter bamboo frame. The lace and stockinette sections reach their maximum width of 1.75 inches when unblocked, though final dimensions will be determined by the blocking and stretching process onto the parasol frame.
Skill Level
Rated as intermediate difficulty, this project requires competency with circular needle knitting, lace pattern reading, and the ability to manage increasing stitches in the round. Familiarity with the Pi shawl construction method is beneficial, though the pattern provides guidance for executing this radial expansion technique.
```Specifications
| Brand: | Independent Designer |
| Yarn Weight: | 4 Ply |
| Designer: | Trisha Paetsch |
| Craft: | Knitting |
| Format: | Downloadable PDF |
| Languages: | English |
| Number of Patterns: | 1 |
| Skill Level: | Intermediate |
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