INTRODUCTION

Featherlight

by Ashley Jane McIntyre

When the first hint of fall settles in, there can be some mixed emotions. Embracing the shift towards autumn means you must inevitably bid farewell to the carefree warmth of summer. Yet, it also comes with the crisp promise of change and growth to come. Step into the season with a shawl as adaptable as you are.

Wrapping yourself in Featherlight adds a hint-of-fall appeal to any outfit with its airy ombre mesh and motifs that blend inspiration from feathers on summery birds with leaves that will soon change and flutter from the trees.

model: Lauren Pearson

photos: Salt Paper Studio

SIZE

One

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Depth: 35 inches / 89 cm
Wingspan: 68 inches / 173 cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
Universal Yarn Donnina [100% superwash extra fine merino; 180 yds/165 m per 50g]
[A] 233 Glacier; 1 ball
[B] 232 Blue Hint; 1 ball
[C] 226 Real Teal; 1 ball
[D] 227 Balsam; 1 ball
[E] 224 Navy; 1 ball
[F] 221 Seaport; 1 ball

Yarn Characteristics
Donnina is a high twist sport weight yarn made from 100% extrafine merino wool. It boasts excellent stitch definition and a springy bounce. The design looks better in a solid or nearly-solid colour; it works well in other fibers, too – consider cotton or even a synthetic.

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
Recommended hook size US G-6/4mm hook

Notions
removable stitch marker
yarn needle

GAUGE

16 sts/8 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in Simple dc lace patt

PATTERN NOTES

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

This shawl is crocheted from the bottom up from tip to wingspan. Each new color is introduced using intarsia.
The motifs are created using Butterfly Clusters as an edge which surround a central diamond shape. You will place stitches in each side of the Butterfly clusters, which will be indicated as "top-right" or "top-left."

Simple dc Lace (for swatching)
Multiple of 2 sts + 4
Row 1, establish pattern: Dc into 6th ch from hook (counts as dc, ch 1, sk 1), *ch 1, sk 1, dc in next ch; rep from * to end, turn.
Row 2: Ch 4 (counts as dc, ch 1), sk 1, dc in next st, *ch 1, sk ch sp, dc in next st; rep from * to end, turn.
Rep Row 2 for patt.

Tip: Although the instructions look long, they're not as complicated as they might seem. Both BegBCL and BCL have two mini-clusters separated with a ch 1. The second half of BegBCL and both halves of the BCL are the same.

Tip: When you reach the Final Rows, you can continue to follow the Pattern Stitch from Rows 7-10, but omit the portions of the row worked in the next colour.

PATTERN STITCH

Diamond Top (DT)
Yo twice and insert hook into next st, yo and pull up loop, yo and draw through 2 loops, yo and draw through 2 loops (2 loops on hook), yo and insert hook into next st, yo and pull up loop, yo and draw through 2 loops (3 loops on hook), yo and insert hook into next st, yo and pull up loop, yo and draw through 2 loops (4 loops on hook), yo and insert hook into next st, yo and pull up loop, yo and draw through 2 loops (5 loops on hook), yo and twice insert hook into next st, yo and pull up loop, yo and draw through 2 loops, yo and draw through 2 loops (6 loops on hook), yo and draw through all 6 loops on hook.

Beg Butterfly Cluster (BegBCL)
Ch 3, yo and insert hook into base of ch-3, yo and pull up loop, yo and draw through 2 loops (2 loops on hook), yo and insert hook into same st, yo and pull up loop, yo and draw through 2 loops (3 loops on hook), yo and draw through all 3 loops on hook, ch 1, yo and insert hook into same st, yo and pull up loop, yo and draw through 2 loops (2 loops on hook), yo and insert hook into same st, yo and pull up loop, yo and draw through 2 loops (3 loops on hook), yo and insert hook into same st, yo and pull up loop, yo and draw through 2 loops (4 loops on hook), yo and draw through all 4 loops on hook.

Butterfly Cluster (BCL)
Yo and insert hook into next st, yo and pull up loop, yo and draw through 2 loops (2 loops on hook), yo and insert hook into same st, yo and pull up loop, yo and draw through 2 loops (3 loops on hook), yo and insert hook into same st, yo and pull up loop, yo and draw through 2 loops (4 loops on hook), yo and draw through all 4 loops on hook, ch 1, yo and insert hook into same st, yo and pull up loop, yo and draw through 2 loops (2 loops on hook), yo and insert hook into same st, yo and pull up loop, yo and draw through 2 loops (3 loops on hook), yo and insert hook into same st, yo and pull up loop, yo and draw through 2 loops (4 loops on hook), yo and draw through all 4 loops on hook.

Row 1 (RS): BegBCL, turn.
Row 2 (WS): BegBCL, ch 1, dc in ch sp of next BegBCL, ch 1, BCL, turn.
Row 3: BegBCL, ch 1, dc in top-left of next BCL, ch 1, dc in next dc, ch 1, dc in top-right of next BCL, ch 1, BCL in top-left of next BCL, turn.
Row 4: BegBCL, ch 1, dc in top-left of next BCL, ch 1, sk the [ch, dc, ch], [tr, 3dc, tr] in next dc, ch 1, sk the [ch, dc, ch], dc in top-right of next BCL, ch 1, BCL in top-left of next BCL, turn.

Row 5: Ch 5 (counts as tr, ch1) dc in same st, ch 1, BCL in ch sp of next BCL, ch 1, dc in next dc, ch 1, dc in each of the next 5 sts, ch 1, dc in next dc, ch 1, BCL in ch sp of next BCL, turn.
Row 6: Sl st to ch sp of next BCL, BegBCL in ch sp, ch 1, dc in next dc, ch 3, DT, ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 1, BCL in ch sp of next BCL, *ch 1, sk ch sp, dc in next st; rep from * to end, ch 1, tr in same st as final dc, turn.
Row 7: Ch 5 (counts as tr, ch1) dc in same st, *ch 1, sk ch sp, dc in next st; rep from * across row placing final dc in top-right of next BCL, ch 1, BCL in top-left of next BCL, ch 1, dc in 2nd ch of ch-3 sp, ch 1, dc in top of DT, ch 1, dc in 2nd ch of ch-3 sp, ch 1, BCL in top-right of next BCL, change to color B, ch 1, BCL in top-left of next BCL, turn.
Row 8: BegBCL, ch 1, dc in ch sp of next BCL, ch 1, BCL in ch sp between next 2 BCLs, change to color A, ch 1, BCL in top-left of color A BCL, ch 1, dc in 2nd dc, ch 1, BCL in top-right of next BCL, *ch 1, sk ch sp, dc in next st; rep from * to end, ch 1, tr in same st as final dc, turn.

Row 9: Ch 5 (counts as tr, ch1) dc in same st, * ch 1, sk ch sp, dc in next st; rep from * across row placing final dc in top-right of next BCL, ch 1, BCL in top-left of next BCL, ch 1, BCL in top-right of next BCL, change to color B, ch 1, BCL in ch sp between next 2 BCLs, ch 1, dc in top-left of next BCL, ch 1, dc in next dc, ch 1, dc in top-right of next BCL, ch 1, BCL in top-left of next BCL, turn.
Row 10: BegBCL, ch 1, dc in top-right of next BCL, ch 1, [tr, 3dc, tr] in next dc, ch 1, dc in top-left of next BCL, ch 1, BCL in ch sp between next 2 BCL, change to color A, ch 1, BCL in ch sp between next 2 BCLs, *ch 1, sk ch sp, dc in next st; rep from * to end, ch 1, tr in same st as final dc, turn.
Row 11: Ch 5 (counts as tr, ch1) dc in same st, *ch 1, sk ch sp, dc in next st; rep from * across row placing final dc in ch sp of next BCL, change to color B, break color A, ch 1, BCL in ch sp of next BCL, ch 1, dc in next dc, ch 1, dc in each of the next 5 sts, ch 1, dc in next dc, ch 1, BCL in ch sp of next BCL, turn.

DIRECTIONS

With color A, ch 1.

Work Pattern Stitch.

Once you have completed Row 11 the first time through, rep Rows 6-11, introducing a new color each time you work Row 7. Introduce colors in this order: C, D, E, F, E, D, C, B, A. Once the final Row 11 is complete, continue with color A only.

Work Row 6 once more.

Final Rows:
Row 1: Ch 5 (counts as tr, ch1) dc in same st, * ch 1, sk ch sp, dc in next st; rep from * across row placing final dc in top-right of next BCL, ch 1, BCL in top-left of next BCL, ch 1, dc in 2nd ch of ch-3 sp, ch 1, dc in top of DT, ch 1, dc in 2nd ch of ch-3 sp, ch 1, BCL in top-right of next BCL, turn.
Row 2: Sl st to top-left corner BCL, BegBCL, ch 1, dc in 2nd dc, ch 1, BCL in top-right of next BCL, * ch 1, sk ch sp, dc in next st; rep from * to end, ch 1, tr in same st as final dc, turn.
Row 3: Ch 5 (counts as tr, ch1) dc in same st, * ch 1, sk ch sp, dc in next st; rep from * across row placing final dc in top-right of next BCL, ch 1, BCL in top-left of next BCL, ch 1, BCL in top-right of next BCL, turn.
Row 4: Sl st to ch sp between next 2 BCLs, BegBCL BCL in ch sp between next 2 BCLs, * ch 1, sk ch sp, dc in next st; rep from * to end, ch 1, tr in same st as final dc, Fasten off.

FINISHING

Soak finished piece in cool water with a bit of soap, if desired. Remove from water, place on a towel, and roll the towel up to absorb the excess water. Unroll towel and place on a flat surface, if you’re using wool, stretch to open up the lace, using blocking wires, pins and combs, if desired. If using a synthetic yarn, a little steam will heloop open up the lace. Let dry. Weave in ends.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Ashley Jane McIntyre is a dog-mom, outdoor enthusiast, gardener, and is mildly obsessed with Dungeons & Dragons. When she isn’t nerding out or hiking in the woods, she crochets to pass the time. She has been crocheting for over 20 years now and began her journey with small designs and pattern testing in 2019. She founded a local crafting guild in 2020 called the Charlotte Region Arts Fibers and Textiles guild, aka CRAFT CLT.

Most recently she started working as a design associate for Universal Yarn, where she has been honing her skills in design and tech editing.

Pattern & images © 2022 Ashley Jane McIntyre