BIRDS NEST SMOKE RING by Shui Kuen Kozinski Let it rain and blow: In a tight knit nest we snuggle - Security, warmth and comfort. The Birds Nest Smoke Ring, a snug, neat and compact winter accessory, is inspired by the "Birds Nest National Stadium" of 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. The motif is from "Omas Strickgeheimnisse, 200 bezaubernde Muster" by Eichenseer, Grill and Kron, page 56. Experience: Intermediate Size: Circumference: 22 inches at the top and 26 inches at the bottom. Length: 17 ˝ inches long. Materials: - 4 balls of elann.com Peruvian Baby Silk. - 3.5mm (US 4), 3.75mm (US 5), and 4mm (US 6) circular needles - 16" or 24" length, or size required to match gauge - Ring markers - 3.75mm (US F) crochet hook for provisional cast on. - Fine smooth waste yarn in contrast color. Gauge: Measured over lace pattern 22 sts = 4” after blocking, using 3.5mm (US 4). Notes: 1) Smoke ring is knitted in the round with scalloped picot edgings on both top and bottom. 2) For scalloped picot edging, begin with provisional cast on. Wind 10 yards of yarn into a small ball, do not break yarn. This ball will be used later for the picot edging on the top. 3) Start at the top of the smoke ring with 3.5mm (US 4) circular needle, at each new ball of yarn, change needle to one size larger – 3.75mm (US 5) for second ball of yarn, and then 4mm (US 6) for third and fourth ball. Chart: Click here to download a printable PDF version of the chart for this pattern. INSTRUCTIONS: The top edging: Use provisional cast on. With contrast color waste yarn and crochet hook, chain 132. Using shawl yarn with small ball hanging as the tail, with 3.5 mm needles, pick up and knit 121 sts in the bumps on the backside of the chains. Join and knit in the round, be careful not to twist. Work 5 rows of garter stitch as following: Row: 1, 3 and 5 purl. Row: 2 and 4 knit. PM (place marker) at the end of each row. Body of the smoke ring: Row 1: (p3, k2tog, k1, yo, k2, p3) 11x, PM Row 2: (p3, k5, p3) 11x, PM Row 3: (p2, k2tog, k1, yo, p1, yo, k1, ssk, p2) 11x, PM Row 4: (p2, k3, p1, k3, p2) 11x, PM Row 5: (p1, k2tog, k1, yo, p3, yo, k1, ssk, p1) 11x, PM Row 6: (p1, k3, p3, k3, p1) 11x, PM Row 7: (k2tog, k1, yo, p5, yo, k1, ssk) 10x, end k2tog, k1, yo, p5, yo, PM, k1, ssk, RM. Row 8: (k3, p5, k3) 10x, end k3, p5, k1, PM Row 9: (2/2 LC, p3, yo, p2tog, p2) 11x, PM Row 10: (k4, p3, k1, p3) 11x, PM Row 11: (k4, p1, p2tog, yo, p1, yo, p2tog, p1) 11x, PM Row 12: (k4, p2, k1, p1, k1, p2) 11x, PM Row 13: (2/2 LC, p3, yo, p2tog, p2)11x, RM, k2, PM Row 14: (k2, p3, k1, p3, k2) 11x, PM Row 15: (yo, k1, ssk, p6, k2) 11x, PM Row 16: (k3, p6, k2) 11x, PM Row 17: (p1, yo, k1, ssk, p4, k2tog, k1, yo) 11x, PM Row 18: (p1, k3, p4, k3) 11x, PM Row 19: (p2, yo, k1, ssk, p2, k2tog, k1, yo, p1) 11x, PM Row 20: (p2, k3, p2, k3, p1) 11x, PM Row 21: (p3, yo, k1, ssk, k2tog, k1, yo, p2) 11x, PM Row 22: (p3, k6, p2) 11x, PM Row 23: (yo, p2tog, p2, 2/2 LC, p3) 11x, PM Row 24: (k1, p3, k4, p3) 11x, PM Row 25: (p1, yo, p2tog, p1, k4, p1, p2tog, yo) 11x, PM Row 26: (p1, k1, p2, k4, p2, k1) 11x, PM Row 27: (yo, p2tog, p2, 2/2 LC, p3) 11x, PM Row 28: (k1, p3, k4, p3) 11x, PM Repeat Row1-28, 3 more times and then repeat Row1-20 one more time. The Bottom edging: Work 5 rows of garter stitch as following: Row: 1, 3 and 5 purl. Row: 2 and 4 knit. Place marker (PM) at the end of each row, and bind off all sts using picot bind off. Picot bind-off: Insert the right-hand needle into the first stitch on the left-hand (LH) needle, and knit a stitch but do not slip the stitch off the left needle. Slip the new stitch back onto the LH needle, then make a second new stitch as before. Cast off four stitches, and then slip the remaining stitch back onto the LH needle. Repeat along the row, making two stitches and casting off four each time. Finish the top edging: With 3.5 mm circular needles: Slowly “unzip” crochet chain beginning with last chain. Put 121 st onto needle and using small ball wound at beginning, work picot bind off same as the bottom edging. Finishing: Weave in yarn ends. Soak the smoke ring in warm water for 20 minutes. Roll in a towel to remove excess water, block to measurement. Leave in place until thoroughly dry. Trim yarn ends. Abbreviations: 2/2 LC - sl 2 sts onto CN (cable needle), hold in front, k2, k2 from CN, 10x - 10 times, 11x - 11 times, K - knit, K2tog - Knit two together, P - purl, P2tog - Purl two together, PM - place marker, RM- remove marker, ssk - slip 1 kwise, slip 1 kwise, k2 sl sts together through back loop, yo - yarn over, ( ) - instructions that are to be worked as a group a specified number of times. Please note this pattern is copyrighted material and the entire contents of this pattern are copyrighted as a collective work under the copyright laws of Canada and the United States. You may print a copy of this pattern for your own personal use and enjoyment, but editing, publishing, transmitting, e-mailing, posting it to a list service or database, or otherwise commercially exploiting this pattern is strictly forbidden. Copyright elann.com