by Galia Lael

I love triangular shawls. I also love complicated lace. And I love simplicity. The last two don’t usually coordinate with each other, and that’s why I find it very hard to find a perfect shawl pattern for me. I wanted to create something that was both complicated-looking, but also very simple in terms of construction and pattern. Something that won’t need the knitter’s full attention and could easily be done in front of the TV, but will have a big “wow factor” when finished.

This shawl is very simple and intuitive to make. You don’t need to follow the directions exactly to get similar results. The only thing that pushes it into the ‘piquant’ section is the knitted-on lace border.

The shawl can be made smaller or bigger very easily without any calculations at all.

When the body for the sample shawl was finished, I couldn’t help but think that it looks like waves splashing on the deck of the bay. I chose the Elm Leaf pattern for the edging because it reminded me of seaweed.

SIZE
One

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Length at center back: 30 inches.
Width: 80 inches.

MATERIALS
Yarn
Ornaghi Filati Merino Oro [100% merino; 1375 yd/1257 m per 100g skein]; color: 060; 1 skein


Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
US #2/2.75mm circular needle, 24 inches or longer

Notions
Scrap yarn for provisional cast on
Crochet hook in size close to needle size (used for provisional cast on only)
Two stitch markers
yarn needle

GAUGE

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

Gauge is not critical for this project. Use the needle size which gives you the best looking results.

This shawl requires a single skein (1375 yd) of laceweight yarn, and uses it almost entirely. If your gauge is a bit looser than specified or you’re not sure you’ll have enough yarn, be prepared to either break into a second skein, or make the shawl slightly smaller (directions for adjusting size follow).

The Ocean Spray section is constructed of very simple repeats of yo/k2tog or ssk/yo with a constant number of k sts in between. It starts with 13 k sts between the yo/decrease pairs, the next section has 9 k sts in between and so on. That constant number gets smaller as the shawl grows bigger, until the last rows are ‘yo, k2tog’ repeated over and over again. That’s the reason the Ocean Spray section is not charted. It’s way too simple for a chart!

The shawl can easily be made bigger or smaller. Just add or subtract rows from the Ocean Spray section (for example, instead of four eyelet rows in every section, make three). The border can be added to any size shawl with no calculations needed.

Provisional Cast On
This project uses a provisional cast on. Use your preferred provisional cast on technique; directions for one technique may be found here.


Backwards Loop Cast On
Instructions for the Backward Loop Cast On can be found here.

Elm Leaf pattern:
Written instructions

Row 1 [RS]: Sl1, K3, yo, k2tog, slm, k1, yo, k1, ssk, p1, k2tog, k1, yo, p1, ssk, p1, k2tog, [yo, k1] twice, slm, k2, yo, k2tog, yo, yo, k2.

Row 2 [WS]: Sl1, k2, p1, k2, yo, p2tog, slm, p5, k1, p1, k1, p3, k1, p4, slm, p2, yo, p2tog, k1, p2tog (one st from border and one st from original body sts.

Row 3 [RS]: Sl 1, k3, yo, k2tog, slm, k1, yo, k1, ssk, p1, k2tog, k1, p1, k3tog, yo, k3, yo, k1, slm, k2, yo, k2tog, k4.

Row 4 [WS]: Sl 1, k5, yo, p2tog, slm, p7, k1, p2, k1, p4, slm, p2, yo, p2tog, k1, p2tog (one st from border and one st from original body sts.

Row 5 [RS]: Sl 1, k3, yo, k2tog, slm, [k1, yo] twice, ssk, p1, k2tog, k2tog, yo, k5, yo, k1, slm, k2, yo, k2tog, yo, yo, k2tog, yo, yo, k2.

Row 6 [WS]: Sl 1, [k2, p1] twice, k2, yo, p2tog, slm, p8, k1, p1, k1, p5, slm, p2, yo, p2tog, k1, p2tog (one st from border and one st from original body sts.

Row 7 [RS]: Sl 1, k3, yo, k2tog, slm, k1, yo, k3, yo, sl1, k2tog, psso, p1, yo, k1, ssk, p1, k2tog, k1, yo, k1, slm, k2, yo, k2tog, k7.

Row 8 [WS]: BO 5 sts purlwise, k3 (4 sts on RH needle), yo, p2tog, slm, p4, k1, p3, k1, p7, slm, p2, yo, p2tog, k1, p2tog (one st from border and one st from original body sts.
Row 9 [RS]: Sl 1, k3, yo, k2tog, slm, k1, yo, k5, yo, ssk, k1, ssk, p1, k2tog, k1, yo, k1, slm, k2, yo, k2tog, k2.

Row 10 [WS]: Sl 1, k3, yo, p2tog, slm, p4, k1, p2, k1, p8, slm, p2, yo, p2tog, k1, p2tog (one st from border and one st from original body sts.

DIRECTIONS

Rotate work 90 degrees clockwise. Pick up and knit 3 sts, one in each garter ridge along the side of work. Unravel the scrap yarn at CO to reveal the live sts. Knit those 3 sts. 9 sts total.

Set up row 1 [RS]: K3, yo, k1, yo, pm, k1 (center st), yo, k1, yo, pm, k3. 4 sts increased, 13 sts total.

Set up row 2 [WS]: K3, p to last 3 sts, k3.

Section 1 - stockinette:
Row 1 [RS]: K3, yo, k to marker, yo, slm, k1, yo, k to marker, yo, k3. 17 sts.

Row 2 [WS]: K3, p to last 3 sts, k3.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 49 times. 213 sts.

Repeat Row 1 once more. 217 sts.

Section 2 – Ocean Spray:
Note: All the RS rows in this section are constructed of repeats of yo/decrease pairs in equal intervals. When you know how many k sts are between each pair, you don’t need to look at the instructions, and it becomes a mindless TV knit. Simply remember how many k sts you had before the center ‘yo, k1, yo’ and repeat this number for the other half. It is not important if you follow the directions exactly as written, as long as both halves are symmetrical. You also don’t have to worry if you made a mistake. The placement of the first yo in each row is almost random, so you can do your own thing and get similar results.

If you want a smaller shawl, no problem! Just knit fewer eyelet rows on every (or a few) of the sections. But take into account that your stitch count will be different than written on the next rows. Which is not a problem either, because it’s all random!

Every other RS row is worked plain (rows 4, 8, 12, etc.). This is maintained throughout the pattern until the garter stripe.

The garter edge with adjacent ‘yo’ and the center ‘yo, k1, yo’ are bolded to make reading easier.

Row 2: K3, yo, k3, [yo, k2tog, k13] to 12 sts from marker, yo, k2tog, k10, yo, slm, k1, yo, k10, [ssk, yo, k13] to 5 sts from marker, ssk, yo, k3, yo, k3. 221 sts.

Row 4: K3, yo, k to marker, yo, slm, k1, yo, k marker, yo, k3. 225 sts.

Row 6: K3, yo, k10, [yo, k2tog, k13] to 9 sts from marker, yo, k2tog, k7, yo, slm, k1, yo, k7, [ssk, yo, k13] to 12 sts from marker, ssk, yo, k10, yo, k3. 229 sts.

Row 8 and every other RS row: Repeat row 4.

Row 10: K3, yo, k2, [yo, k2tog, k13] to 6 sts from marker, yo, k2tog, k4, yo, slm, k1, yo, k4, [ssk, yo, k13] to 4 sts from marker, ssk, yo, k2, yo, k3. 237 sts.

Row 14: K3, yo, k13, [yo, k2tog, k13] to 14 sts from marker, yo, k2tog, k12, yo, slm, k1, yo, k12, [ssk, yo, k13] to marker, yo, k3. 245 sts.

Row 18: K3, yo, k9, [yo, k2tog, k13] to 7 sts from marker, yo, k2tog, k5, yo, slm, k1, yo, k5, [ssk, yo, k13] to 11 sts from marker, ssk, yo, k9, yo, k3. 253 sts.

11-st Repeat Section:
Row 22: K3, yo, k2, [yo, k2tog, k9] to 2 sts from marker, k2, yo, slm, k1, yo, k11, [ssk, yo, k9] to 4 sts from marker, ssk, yo, k2, yo, k3. 261 sts.

Row 26: K3, yo, k11, [yo, k2tog, k9] to 8 sts from marker, yo, k2tog, k6, yo, slm, k1, yo, k6, [ssk, yo, k9] to 2 sts from marker, k2, yo, k3. 269 sts.

Row 30: K3, yo, k9, [yo, k2tog, k9] to 3 sts from marker, yo, k2tog, k1, yo, slm, k1, yo, k1, [ssk, yo, k9] to marker, yo, k3. ­­277 sts.

Row 34: K3, yo, k6, [yo, k2tog, k9] to 10 sts from marker, yo, k2tog, k8, yo, slm, k1, yo, k8, [ssk, yo, k9] to 8 sts from marker, ssk, yo, k6, yo, k3. ­­285 sts.

10-st Repeat Section:
Row 38: K3, yo, k5, [yo, k2tog, k8] to 6 sts from marker, yo, k2tog, k4, yo, slm, k1, yo, k4, [ssk, yo, k8] to 7 sts from marker, ssk, yo, k5, yo, k3. 293 sts.

Row 42: K3, yo, k1, [yo, k2tog, k8] to 4 sts from marker, yo, k2tog, k2, yo, slm, k1, yo, k2, [ssk, yo, k8] to 3 sts from marker, ssk, yo, k1, yo, k3. 301 sts.

Row 46: K3, yo, k10, [yo, k2tog, k8] to 9 sts from marker, yo, k2tog, k7, yo, slm, k1, yo, k7, [ssk, yo, k8] to 2 sts from marker, k2, yo, k3. 309 sts.

Row 50: K3, yo, k7, [yo, k2tog, k8] to 6 sts from marker, yo, k2tog, k4, yo, slm, k1, yo, k4, [ssk, yo, k8] to 9 sts from marker, ssk, yo, k7, yo, k3. 317 sts.

9-st Repeat Section:
Row 54: K3, yo, k6, [yo, k2tog, k7] to 7 sts from marker, yo, k2tog, k5, yo, slm, k1, yo, k5, [ssk, yo, k7] to 8 sts from marker, ssk, yo, k6, yo, k3. 325 sts.

Row 58: K3, yo, k5, [yo, k2tog, k7] to 3 sts from marker, yo, k2tog, k1, yo, slm, k1, yo, k1, [ssk, yo, k7] to 7 sts from marker, ssk, yo, k5, yo, k3. 333 sts.

Row 62: K3, yo, k3, [yo, k2tog, k7] to marker, yo, slm, k1, yo, k7, [ssk, yo, k7] to 5 sts from marker, ssk, yo, k3, yo, k3. 341 sts.

8-st Repeat Section:
Row 66: K3, yo, k7, [yo, k2tog, k6] to 2 sts from marker, k2, yo, slm, k1, yo, k8, [ssk, yo, k6] to 1 st from marker, k1, yo, k3. 349 sts.

Row 70: K3, yo, k5, [yo, k2tog, k6] to marker, yo, slm, k1, yo, k6, [ssk, yo, k6] to 7 sts from marker, ssk, yo, k5, yo, k3. 357 sts.

Row 74: K3, yo, k3, [yo, k2tog, k6] to 6 sts from marker, yo, k2tog, k4, yo, slm, k1, yo, k4, [ssk, yo, k6] to 5 sts from marker, ssk, yo, k3, yo, k3. 365 sts.

Row 82: K3, yo, k5, [yo, k2tog, k5] to 5 sts from marker, yo, k2tog, k3, yo, slm, k1, yo, k3, [ssk, yo, k5] to marker, yo, k3. 381 sts.

Row 86: K3, yo, k4, [yo, k2tog, k5] to 3 sts from marker, k3, yo, slm, k1, yo, k8, [ssk, yo, k5] to 6 sts from marker, ssk, yo, k4, yo, k3. 389 sts.

6-st Repeat Section:
Row 90: K3, yo, k5, [yo, k2tog, k4] to 2 sts from marker, k2, yo, slm, k1, yo, k6, [ssk, yo, k4] to 1 st from marker, k1, yo, k3. 397 sts.

Row 94: K3, yo, k4, [yo, k2tog, k4] to 1 st from marker, k1, yo, slm, k1, yo, k5, [ssk, yo, k4] to marker, yo, k3. 405 sts.

Row 98: K3, yo, k3, [yo, k2tog, k4] to marker, yo, slm, k1, yo, k4, [ssk, yo, k4] to 5 sts from marker, ssk, yo, k3, yo, k3. 413 sts.

5-st Repeat Section:
Row 102: K3, yo, k4, [yo, k2tog, k3] to 1 st from marker, k1, yo, slm, k1, yo, k4, [ssk, yo, k3] to 1 st from marker, k1, yo, k3. 421 sts.

Row 106: K3, yo, k4, [yo, k2tog, k3] to marker, yo, slm, k1, yo, k3, [ssk, yo, k3] to 1 st from marker, k4, yo, k3. 429 sts.

4-st Repeat Section:
Row 110: K3, yo, k3, [yo, k2tog, k2] to 2 sts from marker, k2, yo, slm, k1, yo, k4, [ssk, yo, k2] to 1 st from marker, k1, yo, k3. 437 sts.

Row 114: K3, yo, k3, [yo, k2tog, k2] to 2 sts from marker, k4, yo, slm, k1, yo, k4, [ssk, yo, k2] to 1 st from marker, k1, yo, k3. 445 sts.

3-st Repeat Section:
Row 118: K3, yo, k2, [yo, k2tog, k1] to marker, yo, slm, k1, yo, k1, [ssk, yo, k1] to 1 st from marker, k1, yo, k3. 453 sts.

2-st Repeat Section:
Row 122: K3, yo, k1, [yo, k2tog] to marker, yo, slm, k1, yo, [ssk, yo] to 1 st from marker, k1, yo, k3. 461 sts.

Row 126: K3, yo, k2, [yo, k2tog] to 1 st from marker, k1, yo, slm, k1, yo, k1, [ssk, yo] to 2 sts from marker, k2, yo, k3. 469 sts.

Row 128: Repeat Row 4.

Repeat Rows 122 to 126 once more, ending with row 126 (RS row). Do not work the next row. 485 sts.

Garter stripe:
Starting on WS, knit 4 rows, removing the center stitch marker when you get to it. Do not turn your work. Leave yarn attached.

Set up row 1: Using yarn of shawl and with RS facing, CO 28 sts using the backward loop method. Turn work.
Set up row 2 [WS]: K8, place marker, k16, place marker, k5, k2tog (one st from newly CO edge stitches, and one st from original body sts).
Row 1 [RS]: Sl1, k to end.
Row 2 [WS]: K27, k2tog (one st from border, and one st from original body sts).
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 above once more.

With RS facing, begin working the Elm Leaf pattern (from written instructions or chart, as you prefer). Work pattern until there are two original body stitches left, ending on a WS (the number of repeats depend on the size of your shawl).  And it doesn’t matter which row you finish on!

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 above twice. No body sts left. BO all stiches.

FINISHING
Weave in the ends. Wet block.

Galia is the only knitter in her family. She was taught by her babysitter when she was very young, and has evolved a little since. When she doesn't knit, spin or design knitwear, she makes spindles and sells them in her shop.

Galia lives in sunny Israel, where she can usually only dream about a winter cold enough to wear all her handknits. You can find her on Ravelry as Galia. ßå