Sunday, 4 October 2020

Virga Choker (beaded version) - Free Lace Choker Knitting Pattern

- These are the pattern instructions for the beaded version of the Virga Choker, the pattern for the Virga Choker without beads is available here. -

Virga Lace Choker Free Knitting Pattern (beaded version)

As an in-between project I finished another choker. I was inspired to design this choker when looking at in-progress project photos of my Virga shawl, an upcoming pattern for a semi-circular lace shawl, which will be published on the blog shortly. When I took the photos of the shawl, the dressmaker's dummy still had my Cascade choker wrapped around the neck and I got the idea to make a choker in the same lace motif as the Virga shawl.

The result of this endeavour is my Virga Choker.

Compared to my previous choker designs the Virga Choker is constructed a little differently and the pattern has two versions. In this post you will find the instructions for the beaded version of the choker.

Beaded Virga Lace Choker

Just like my earlier lace choker knitting patterns (the Nameless, the Brocade Choker and the Cascade Choker), the Virga Choker is a quick and uncomplicated lace project, ideal for using up small amounts of yarn.

As the choker can be completed in a day or two, including the time it requires to block the finished piece (blocking is absolutely essential to open up the lace), the beaded version of the Virga Choker serves as a beginner-friendly introduction to beaded lacework.

The choker requires approximately 5g of Scheepjes Maxi Sugar Rush mercerised cotton yarn and is worked on 2mm - 2.5mm double-pointed needles (dpns). Though it is possible to knit the choker on wood or bamboo needles, I recommend the use of pointy, metallic dpns, especially if you are opting for the use of mercerised cotton yarn with this pattern. This will make the knitting experience much more enjoyable.

The length of the choker can be adjusted easily for different neck circumferences and I recommend you check the fit whilst knitting. Altogether, you should ensure that the body of the choker covers around 80% - 85% of the neck before the piece is blocked. The choker is secured with the help of two i-cords, which each measure approximately 20cm in length. These will be tied to a bow. Beads can be attached to the ends of the i-cords for a more sophisticated finish.

Beaded Virga Lace Choker Knitting Pattern - I-cord

Beaded Virga Lace Choker - I-cord Detail

The completed piece should be wet-blocked (to open the lace detail) and left to dry over night.

If you decide to substitute the mercerised cotton with another type of yarn, the number of lace repeats will differ. As you can check the fit whilst knitting, this should not be a major issue, making this project ideally suited to using up all types of yarn leftovers.

Virga Lace Choker (beaded version)

Free Knitting Pattern

Beaded Virga Lace Choker

Measurements

Before starting this project, measure your neck circumference. The lace body of your choker should cover around 80% to 85% of your neck and it will be secured with two i-cords, which should be long enough to tie a bow comfortably.

The knitting instructions for the Virga Choker below will produce a piece which measures 27cm in length (body of the choker after blocking) and the i-cords each measure around 20cm in length. For a choker body measuring 27cm, you will work approximately 8 to 9 repeats of the lace sequence when knitting the body of the choker. Adjust the number of lace repeats for a shorter or longer piece.

Beaded Lace Choker Free Knitting Pattern

Beaded Virga Lace Choker

Materials and Tools

5g of Scheepjes Maxi Sugar Rush mercerised cotton yarn
2 mm or 2.5 mm double-pointed knitting needles
1.5 mm crochet hook / fine darning needle (for sewing-in yarn ends and attaching beads at the ends of the i-cords)
fine sewing needle, matching the size of the hole of the beads
sewing thread for threading beads onto mercerised cotton yarn
2 beads for securing the ends of the i-cords (optional)
blocking utensils
app. 96 to 108 beads suitable for the yarn

For the choker in the images I used beads with a hole measuring 1mm. As it is difficult to thread such small beads directly onto the mercerised cotton yarn, I first threaded them onto standard sewing thread with a slim sewing needle and then attached the mercerised cotton yarn to the sewing thread with the beads, proceeding to slide the beads onto the mercerised cotton yarn afterwards. I advise to work this step in batches, in case you come across a bead whose hole size is slightly too small (due to manufacturing faults).

Beaded Virga Lace Choker - Beading Detail

Preparation for Beadwork

The Virga choker's simple lace motif is knitted over 12 rows, consisting of knit and purl stitches and a variety of standard in-and decreases. The beads are incorporated into the lace part of the choker where the yarn overs are located.

There are various methods for the incorporation of beads into the knitting. I threaded mine onto the yarn before starting the project and incorporated them after the yarn overs (yos) by sliding them in place to the front of the work. In the project instructions below, the abbreviation pb (place bead) indicates that the bead should be placed after the yo has been wrapped around the right hand needle. The bead should be positioned on the yarn over stitch, sitting just under and held in position by the right hand needle before the next stitch is worked.

With every right side row of the pattern having two yarn overs (yo), this pattern requires 12 beads per lace repeat. Overall, the lace motif is repeated around 9 times, and I would suggest threading a total of 108 beads onto the yarn prior to commencing the project.

Knitting Instructions

Cast-on and First I-Cord

Cast-on 4 stitches

Knit an i-cord that measures approximately 20cm.

Increase to Body of Choker:

Row 1 (wrong side): Sl1(purlwise), p3, (4 stitches)

Row 2 (right side): Sl1 (purlwise), kfb x2, p1 (6 stitches)

Row 3: Sl1(purlwise), p to end

Row 4: Sl1 (purlwise), kfb, k2, kfb, p1 (8 stitches)

Row 5: Sl1(purlwise), p to end

Row 6: Sl1 (purlwise), kfb, k4, kfb, p1 (10 stitches)

Row 7: Sl1(purlwise), p to end

Row 8: Sl1 (purlwise), kfb, k6, kfb, p1 (12 stitches)

Row 9: Sl1(purlwise), p to end

Row 10: Sl1 (purlwise), kfb, k8, kfb, p1 (14 stitches)

Row 11: Sl1(purlwise), p to end

Row 12: Sl1 (purlwise), kfb, k10, kfb, p1 (16 stitches)

Row 13: Sl1(purlwise), p to end

Row 14: Sl1 (purlwise), kfb, k12, kfb, p1 (18 stitches)

Row 15: Sl1(purlwise), p to end

Body of Choker - Lace Pattern

Row 1 (right side): Sl1 (purlwise), p2, k2tog, k5, yo, pb, k1, yo, pb, k2, ssk, p3. (18 sts)

Row 2 : Sl1 (purlwise), k2, p12, k2, p1.

Row 3: Sl1 (purlwise), p2, k2tog, k4, yo, pb, k3, yo, pb, k1, ssk, p3.

Row 4: Sl1 (purlwise), k2, p12, k2, p1.

Row 5: Sl1 (purlwise), p2, k2tog, k3, yo, pb, k5, yo, pb, ssk, p3.

Row 6: Sl1 (purlwise), k2, p12, k2, p1.

Row 7: Sl1 (purlwise), p2, k2tog, k2, yo, pb, k1, yo, pb, k5, ssk, p3.

Row 8: Sl1 (purlwise), k2, p12, k2, p1

Row 9: Sl1 (purlwise), p2, k2tog, k1, yo, pb, k3, yo, pb, k4, ssk, p3.

Row 10: Sl1 (purlwise), k2, p12, k2, p1

Row 11: Sl1 (purlwise), p2, k2tog, yo, pb, k5, yo, pb, k3, ssk, p3.

Row 12: Sl1 (purlwise), k2, p12, k2, p1

Repeat Rows 1 to 12 for pattern.

For a choker body measuring 27cm, repeat the above lace sequence 8 - 9 times. Adjust the number of repeats according to your own requirements and check the fit whilst knitting. When the body of the choker has reached the desired length, begin decreasing the stitch count.

Decrease to second I-Cord

Row 1 : Sl1 (purlwise), k2tog, k12, ssk, p1. (16 stitches)

Row 2: Sl1 (purlwise), p to end

Row 3 : Sl1 (purlwise), k2tog, k10, ssk, p1. (14 stitches)

Row 4: Sl1 (purlwise), p to end

Row 5: Sl1 (purlwise), k2tog, k8, ssk, p1. (12 stitches)

Row 6: Sl1 (purlwise), p to end

Row 7: Sl1 (purlwise), k2tog, k6, ssk, p1. (10 stitches)

Row 8: Sl1 (purlwise), p to end

Row 9: Sl1 (purlwise), k2tog, k4, ssk, p1. (8 stitches)

Row 10: Sl1 (purlwise), p to end

Row 11: Sl1 (purlwise), k2tog, k2, ssk, p1. (6 stitches)

Row 12: Sl1 (purlwise), p to end

Row 8: Sl1 (purlwise), k2tog, ssk, p1. (4 stitches)

When the stitch count has reached 4 stitches, proceed to knit a second I-cord, equal in length to the initial I-cord and bind off.

Attach beads to the ends of both I-Cords. (optional)

Finishing:

Weave-in all yarn ends and block the piece to ensure the lace is opened up.

Should you require pattern support, please feel free to contact me via Ravelry, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, by e-mail or leave a comment below.

Beaded Virga Lace Choker

This pattern is for personal use only and may not be reproduced for commercial purposes without permission. Neither may you sell any items made from the directions in this pattern.

Fancy knitting another of my chokers? - The pattern for my Nameless Choker is available here, the pattern for the Brocade lace choker is available here and the pattern for the Cascade lace choker is available here.

Nameless Choker