INTRODUCTION

Again Around The Sun

by Marnie MacLean

This year feels like a lot of everything all the time, and while there are days I don't want to crawl out of my blanket fort, I get to celebrate fifty years of life, twenty-five years with my partner, three years with my dogs, a new-to-me home in a new-to-me state, twenty-two years at my job, and a lifetime of crafting.

The number of candles I'd need on all those cakes would be a real fire hazard, so instead, I designed a piece featuring the lovely Flicker Flames stitch pattern from Barbara Walker's Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns.

The crescent shape helps it stay on your shoulders when worn in any number of ways as a shawl and the cotton fabric feels great even right against the skin. But it's just as comfortable as a cozy scarf, wrapped double around the neck. It has the potential for year-round use in many climates.

model + photos: Marnie MacLean

SIZE

One

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

At gauge given, piece measures
Wingspan: 50 inches/127cm
Center Godet Depth: 14 inches/35.5cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
Juniper Moon Farm Cumulus Rainbow [94% Cotton, 6% Nylon; 251 yd/229 m per 3.52 oz/100 g ball]; color: 201 Aurora Borealis; 2 balls

Yarn Characteristics
The sample is worked in a soft, squishy, medium-weight cotton blend dyed in a long gradient. The two balls are alternated every other row to extend the gradient.

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
US #9/5.5mm circular needle, 32 inches/80 cm or longer

Notions
stitch markers
yarn needle

GAUGE

16 sts / 32 rows = 4 inches / 10cm in garter stitch (soaked and laid flat to dry) Gauge is not crucial for this project, but working at a different gauge will affect fabric and yardage used.

PATTERN NOTES

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

Construction method: Worked from the top-down the edges are decreased slowly while the godets grow wider until the outer-two godets are bound off and the center godet is worked to the end.

Yarn Planning
This shawl used 85% of the two balls of yarn, leaving ample extra for swatching and subtle differences in gauge.
If you are using a different yarn, a vastly different gauge, or do not know how much yardage you have, you can use the below grid to track your yarn usage by weight.

The grid is based on the total number of stitches in the project, so it'll be accurate regardless of the yarn and needles you use.

Techniques:

• Crochet Cast On (tutorial in first video)
• incto7: (k1, yo, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1) into the same st to make 7 sts from 1
• CDD: Sl next 2 sts tog knitwise, k next st, pass slipped sts over

CHARTS

View and download CHARTs here

DIRECTIONS

Using the crochet method, CO 55 sts, pm, (CO 21, pm) 3 times, CO 55 sts. 173 sts.
Setup row [WS]: Knit.

Note: If using gradient yarn, alternate balls every other row through Section B, then work from only a single ball to end of Section C.

Section A
Work Section A chart.

Note: To make the chart smaller, the side sections are condensed. On Rows 1-2 of the chart, you will k to the first marker, work the sts in the yellow repeat box 3 times, and k to end of the row.

On subsequent rows, you will be working a bind-off at the start of each row. Bind off the number of stitches indicated, k to the first marker, work the green-highlighted section 3 times, and k to end of the row. On the final row, remove the markers.

195 sts when Section A chart is complete.

Section B

Start Section B chart as follows: Work first sts of Main Chart, place marker, work Inset Chart as noted, place marker, work central section of Main Chart, working the stitches in the green repeat box 3 times, place marker, work Inset Chart as noted, place marker, work to end.

Work as set until you have completed Row 51 of Section B charts.

The bind offs on chart rows 52, 53, 54, and 55 require extra attention.

Chart Rows 52 and 53: As per the chart, you will bind off 3 sts before the first marker. To bind off the last of these three stitches requires you to work a fourth st, the first one on the other side of the st marker. This is highlighted in red. Remove the markers when you do this.

Chart Row 54: BO until one st remains before marker, p1, (2 sts now on right-hand needle), remove marker, purl to end of row.

Chart Row 55: BO until one st remains before marker, k1, (2 sts now on right-hand needle), remove marker, work to end of row as per Row 55 of Section B Main chart.
After these rows are complete, 2 sts remain from each Inset chart. These will become part of an i-cord edge in Section C. 89 sts rem.

Section C
If alternating balls of gradient yarn, cut one and work from only a single ball, moving forward.
Chart Row 56 [WS]: Work Section C chart across, repeating stitches in green repeat box 3 times as noted.
Work as set until Section C chart is complete.

When Section C is complete, bind off with the Lace method, as follows:
K1, *k1; return the 2 sts to the left-hand needle and knit them tog tbl; repeat from * until all sts have been worked. Cut yarn, leaving an approximately 6 inch/15 cm tail and pull up through final st to secure.

FINISHING

Weave in all ends and soak piece in warm water; hang or lay flat to dry. The cotton/nylon blend of this yarn doesn't retain a stretch, so pinning it out isn't necessary.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Marnie released her first knitting pattern in 2003, and with this pattern, 140 more since then. She can frequently be found doing any number of crafty things with her free time but she's currently obsessed with writing and rewriting her novels.

Find her on Ravelry.

Pattern & images © 2025 Marnie MacLean