The pineapple lace shawl.

This pineapple lace shawl was made using the pattern below. This particular pattern is a very useful means of learning to make the pineapple motif. I have also used this pattern in the design of two crocheted dresses.

Pattern chart for the pineapple lace shawl.

The finished shawl is not a “pattern-hack” at all, but simply a straight rendition of the given pattern, using 4-ply light yellow rayon thread. The result is a very soft lace fabric.

The manufacturer of the rayon thread I am using, Monaco, says that their brand “raylon” is actually rayon. Earlier, I assumed that “raylon” was actually a rayon blend, that is, a blend of rayon and nylon. Rayon is often blended with synthetic fibers to add strength.

The pineapple lace shawl.

According to the Textiles and Clothing Factsheet at the Ohio State University, “Rayon was the first manufactured fiber. It was developed in France in the 1890s and was originally called “artificial silk.” In 1924, the term rayon was officially adopted by the textile industry. Unlike most man-made fibers, rayon is not synthetic. It is made from wood pulp, a naturally-occurring, cellulose-based raw material. As a result, rayon’s properties are more similar to those of natural cellulosic fibers, such as cotton or linen, than those of thermoplastic, petroleum-based synthetic fibers such as nylon or polyester.”

Rayon is also a very weak fiber. Because of this, rayon garments need considerable care. I also notice a woolly texture on rayon threads when they are wet. It turns out that rayon has low wet strength and is unstable when wet. When hand-washing, the advice is to avoid wringing moisture from rayon fabrics, but rather gently squeeze out moisture and roll in a towel, smooth and shape, then lay flat to dry. Since the shawl is not too heavy when wet, I usually hang it on a plastic (no rust) hanger to dry.

More information about rayon may be found here.