Scalloped Shell
This knit motif is found in Knitting Counterpanes by Mary Walker Phillips. It's a title that's sat on my bookshelf for a while and I keep saying I should work from it. I was given a large amount of kitchen cotton and realized that this would be a good reason to swatch!
The scallop shell is, as Walker Phillips wrote, "endlessly appealing". It is simple, yes. However, it is attractive in a way that makes it exciting for a beginning knitter to work up and there's enough knittery interest that experienced knitters shouldn't get bored before the bind-off.
I chose this one because I was fascinated by a note in the assembly instructions. "This and other fan and shell patterns can be assembled as a series of fan shapes, or as squares." Knitters are then directed to some further instructions for blocking. That caught my eye. A shell turning into a square? I had to try it.
I used a 4mm needle and worked the shell as written. The simplicity of the pattern is a delight. Once the basic pattern was established, it was easy to read the fabric and work until desired size. The 2x2 rib gives both knitter and the resulting fabric interest.
It was interesting to realize that the instructions call for reverse stockinette over the last 3 rows instead of garter stitch as I expected. The plan is to work the next one with garter and see how it differs.
This is a good swatch to understand the instruction style of Walker Phillips patterns. I scribbled notes on my pages converting several of her abbreviations to those I commonly use.
I haven't yet decided if I'll make a larger piece with shells, such as a towel, or if I'll block four into triangles and create a square washcloth.
Details
Swatch is worked in Lily Sugar'n Cream, Colour 01317, "Hot Purple" on 4mm needles.
After a light steam block, it measures 7.5 in / 19 cm from tip to top of the fan border. The top of the fan (measured straight across) is 11 in / 28 cm from edge to edge.