Arrrr! Ahoy matey!Quit scratchin’ yer arse and wonderin’ what ye’ll be havin’ for supper tonight. Howcan ye just sit there, wastin’ yer life away, when there’s adventures to be had inknitting somethin’ just for yerself? And best of all, matey, a loot to be found inthis here “treasure chest”? Some say ye can’t be a true pirate until ye find yer very first treasure. I wanted togive ya the keys to a treasure of a pirate-like stole pattern (where the skulls wouldn’t’be facin’ the wrong way on one side), but blow me down! -- After searchin' and plunderin', I wasn't able to find a pattern for what me mind was thinking, so I designed me own pattern, just for you!

Now while I knit a swatch (to help me in thecreatin’ of the pattern), I've been too busy drinkin' me grog and rum to knit the wholething to show you what it will look like. I’m not leavin’ ye empty handed tho. Here’s a map for ye. Study it close! Ye must follow the map to get the treasure. Once thetreasure is found, ye’ll know, matey, what it feels like to walk in a pirate’s boots,wrapped in the riches of the sea.Once knit, ye be wantin’ to protect this stole from pillage and plunder. This be a sweet booty for other pirates and skull-lovers. May the wind always be at yer back and yer rum casks always be full! I’d send yeluck, but I know ye’ll do fine without it.Yers in piracy, Heather James

Skull Stole

This here “map”, if followed, will lead you to yer own Skull Stole. When completed, ye’ll bethe envy of every pirate sailing the seas. You’ll need to download the original Skulls &Crossbones Lace pattern (a.k.a. “map”) from www.knitting- and.com/knitting/patterns/stitches/skully.htm. If ye have any troubles, let me know andI’ll send ye a copy. NOTE: I am including the charts in this set of instructions. Thewritten ones, which I found easier to follow, however, are at the website noted. Should ye desire the crossbones on yer stole as well, just follow the “map” as written (for the number of recommended repeats noted on this treasure map). This here pirate had a weebit of troubles with some of the stitches on the crossbones section of the pattern so I altered it a bit, by removing the crossbones, to provide the “Skull Stole”. When people ask “why all the skulls?” you can tell ‘em it’s one for every pirate who tried to steal your treasure! Ye can feast yer eyes on a digital sample of what this jewel will look like whenknit. Happy Knitting!

Top Sample: Skull Stole with skulls only.Bottom Sample: Skulls & Crossbones Stole should you decide to incorporate the crossbones into the overall pattern.

Yarn:

2 skeins of KnitPicks Alpaca Cloud (or other lace weight yarn)

Needles:

You will want to swatch with a couple different size needles to find the one that provides you with your desired lace pattern. US 5 and US 6 needles were the sizes that gave results I, personally, preferred.

The “Map” (aka Pattern Instructions)

Cast On 435 stitches. (Yes, you read that correctly… a whopping 435 stitches to cast on so count carefully!)KNIT one (1) row. (Now the fun begins!)For the

SKULL STOLE

you will begin, after having knit a row after casting on your stitches, at ROW 29. Youwill work ROWS 29-56 a total of six (6) times, repeating the skulls across the entire width of the stole. You willend with ROW 56, which is a knit row. Should you desire a skinnier stole, you can, end after any set of theROW 29-56 repeat. Once you begin at ROW 29 again, however, you must knit to ROW 56 otherwise you’llhave a funky skull head.For the

SKULLS & CROSSBONES LACE STOLE

, you will begin at ROW 1, again after having knit a row after casting on, and work through ROW 56. Work these 56 rows 3 times, ending with ROW 56 of the pattern.Should you wish for a skinnier stole while doing the Skulls & Crossbones pattern, you can stop after the first or second time through the 56 rows. Alternately, you can add just a row of skulls or just a row of crossbones toadd a single extra row. Really, the possibilities are endless….After knitting the stole, weave in your ends and block. ENJOY your treasure! I’d LOVE to see pix of your finished “jewels”!