INTRODUCTION

Always be Brave

by Helen Kennedy

The inspiration for this shawl came from talking to knitters at a local yarn fair. Many of them were attracted to buy one of the colorful multicolored yarns available but few really had a clear idea of what they could knit with them. This shawl pairs a colorful variegated yarn with a strongly contrasting neutral solid and uses a simple slip stitch pattern to create a textured shawl that allows the colors of the variegated yarn to shine without becoming overpowering.

The shawl is worked from the 5-stitch cast on corner to the broad edge and uses a twelve-row repeat that is easily memorized. The shawl starts with a focus on the neutral yarn and a simple slip stitch technique creates highlighted rows of textured colored bubbles. The effect is then reversed by making the variegated yarn the star.

The shawl is knit in sportweight yarn making it that little bit cozier for those colder days.

model: Kate Sergeant

photos: Clare Rix Photography

SIZE

One

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Width: 76 inches/193 cm
Depth at deepest point: 20 inches/51 cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
Malabrigo Arroyo [100% Merino wool; 335 yd/306 m per 100g skein];
[MC] Natural; 1 skein
[CC] Acro Iris; 1 skein

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
US #6/4mm circular needle, 24 inch/60 cm or longer

A pair of DPNs or short circular needle one size larger for working i-cord

Notions
yarn needle

GAUGE

22 sts/32 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette stitch
22 sts/34 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in pattern stitch

PATTERN NOTES

[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

KFBF: Knit into the front, back and front of the stitch. 3 sts made from 1.

Adjusting Size or For Different Yardage:
You can adjust your shawl to suit your yarn by changing the number of times you work the Body of Shawl sections 1 and/or 2. Remember to leave enough MC for the contrast i-cord bind off.

CHARTS

DIRECTIONS

Setup With MC:
CO 5 sts using knitted cast on or your preferred method.
Row 1 [WS]: Knit.
Row 2 [RS]: K1, kfbf, k2tog, k1. 6 sts.
Row 3: Knit.
Row 4: K1, kfbf, k1, k2tog, k1. 7 sts.
Row 5: K2, p3, k2.
Row 6: K1, kfbf, k2, k2tog, k1. 8 sts.
Row 7: K2, purl to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 8: K1, kfbf, k3, k2tog, k1. 9 sts.
Row 9: K2, purl to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 10: K1, kfbf, knit to end. 11 sts.
Row 11: K2, purl to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 12: K1, kfbf, k6, k2tog, k1. 12 sts.
Row 13: K2, purl to last 2 sts, k2.

Body Of Shawl – Section 1
Note: Use written instructions here or see Chart.
Continue with MC. You’ll need to join CC at the start of Row 7 the first time. As you work this section, do not break the yarns, just carry them up the side.

With MC:
Row 1 [RS]: K1, kfbf, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 1 st increased.
Row 2: K2, purl to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 3: K1, kfbf, knit to end. 2 sts increased.
Row 4: K2, purl to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 5: K1, kfbf, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 1 st increased.
Row 6: K2, purl to last 2 sts, k2.

With CC:
Row 7: K1, kfbf, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 1 st increased.
Row 8: Knit.

With MC:
Row 9: K1, kfbf, k1, sl2 wyib, (k6, sl2 wyib) to last 4 sts, k4. 2 sts increased.
Row 10: K2, p2, (sl2 wyif, p6) to last 7 sts, sl2 wyif, p3, k2.

With CC:
Row 11: K1, kfbf, k3, sl2 wyib, (k6, sl2 wyib) to last 4 sts, k1, k2tog, k1. 1 st increased.
Row 12: Knit.

Repeat Rows 1-12 14 more times. The stitch counts at the end of each repeat are 20, 28, 36, 44, 52, 60, 68, 76, 84, 92, 100, 108, 116, 124, 132 sts.

Break CC.

Pattern Transition With MC:
Row 1 [RS]: K1, kfbf, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 1 st increased.
Row 2: K2, purl to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 3: K1, kfbf, knit to end. 2 sts increased.

Break MC. With WS facing, re-join CC and work:
Row 4: K2, purl to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 5: K1, kfbf, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 1 st increased.
Row 6: K2, purl to last 2 sts, k2.

With RS facing, re-join MC and work:
Row 7: K1, kfbf, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 1 st increased.
Row 8: Knit.

From here, leave both yarns attached and just carry them up the side, as before.

With CC:
Row 9: K1, kfbf, k1, sl2 wyib, (k6, sl2 wyib) to last 4 sts, k4. 2 sts increased.
Row 10: K2, p2, (sl2 wyif, p6) to last 7 sts, sl2 wyif, p3, k2.

With MC:
Row 11: K1, kfbf, k3, sl2 wyib, (k6, sl2 wyib) to last 4 sts, k1, k2tog, k1. 1 st increased. 140 sts.
Row 12: Knit.

Body Of Shawl – Section 2
Note: Use written instructions here or see Chart.
The patterning in this section is the same as Section 1, but the colors are reversed.

With CC:
Row 1 [RS]: K1, kfbf, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 1 st increased.
Row 2: K2, purl to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 3: K1, kfbf, knit to end. 2 sts increased.
Row 4: K2, purl to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 5: K1, kfbf, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 1 st increased.
Row 6: K2, purl to last 2 sts, k2.

With MC:
Row 7: K1, kfbf, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 1 st increased.
Row 8: Knit.

With CC:
Row 9: K1, kfbf, k1, sl2 wyib, (k6, sl2 wyib) to last 4 sts, k4. 2 sts increased.
Row 10: K2, p2, (sl2 wyif, p6) to last 7 sts, sl2 wyif, p3, k2.

With MC:
Row 11: K1, kfbf, k3, sl2 wyib, (k6, sl2 wyib) to last 4 sts, k1, k2tog, k1. 1 st increased.
Row 12: Knit.

Repeat Rows 1-12 6 more times. Break MC at the end of the final repeat. The stitch counts at the end of each repeat are 148, 156, 164, 172, 180, 188, 196 sts.

With CC:
Work Rows 1-6 once more. 200 sts. Break yarn.

FINISHING

Turn your work to the WS and move your stitches along your circular needle (opposite end to where you just finished) re-join MC and purl one WS row.

Work 3 st i-cord bind off as follows: cast on 3 sts,
Row 1: K2, k2tog tbl, return the three sts back to the left needle.
Work Row 1 until only 3 sts stitches remain on left needle.
Final row: K3tog. Break yarn and pull through final st to secure.

Block, stretching and pinning as desired. Weave in ends.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Helen Kennedy is a mum, neuroscientist, and an emerging UK knitwear designer based in Bristol. Many of her designs feature bold, colorful yarns.

Find her here on Ravelry.

Pattern & images © 2019 Helen Kennedy.