This pretty lacy throw or shawl is made from garter-stitch squares and finished with a simple scalloped edging. Joining the decorative yarn-over increases around the squares is easy to do.
MAKING TIME
The shawl took a total of 17 hours to make.
ABOUT THIS YARN
Debbie Bliss Merino DK is a 100% merino wool yarn and has 120 yds (110 m) to each 50g (approx. 1¾ oz.) ball.
SIZE
Width 24½ in. (62 cm); length 45 in. (114 cm).
YOU WILL NEED
• 7 x 50 g balls (approx. 12¼ oz.) of Debbie Bliss Merino DK in shade 615
• pair of size US 7 (4½ mm) knitting needles
• a spare size US 7 (4½ mm) needle
• size US 2 or C (2.5 mm) crochet hook
GAUGE
Each gst square measures 5 in. (13 cm), edging is 2 in. (5 cm) wide, both when pressed on size US 7 (4½ mm) needles. Change needle size, if necessary, to obtain these measurements.
ABBREVIATIONS
beg = beginning; ch = chain; cont = continue; gst = garter stitch; inc = increase; k = knit; p = purl; RS = right side; st(s) = stitch(es); tog = together; WS = wrong side; yo = yarn over needle to make a st; yrh = yarn around hook; [ ] = work instructions in square brackets as directed.
NOTE
• The needle size given is larger than usual for merino DK to add to the lightweight effect.
SHAWL
GARTER STITCH SQUARE
1st triangle Cast on one st.
Row 1 Yo, k1. 2 sts.
Row 2 Yo, k2. 3 sts.
Row 3 Yo, k3. 4 sts.Cont in gst, inc in this way at beg of every row until there are 26 sts. Cut yarn. Slip sts purlwise onto spare needle.
2nd triangle Work as given for 1st triangle but do not cut yarn.
Join triangles. Hold needles with triangles in left hand. Transfer yarn to left hand and cont with crochet hook. Insert hook knitwise into first st of each triangle and slip sts off needles, yrh and pull through, make 5ch. [Slip next 3 sts off front triangle onto hook, then slip next 3 sts off back triangle onto hook, yrh and pull through 6 sts, yrh and pull through 2 loops on hook, make 4ch] 8 times, insert hook in last st on each needle, yrh and pull through.
Make 32 squares.
EDGING
Cast on 7 sts.
Row 1 (RS) [Yo, p2tog] twice, k1, [yo] twice, k2.
Row 2 K2, dropping 2nd loop, work [k1, p1, k1] into double yo of previous row, k1, [yo, p2tog] twice.
Rows 3 and 5 [Yo, p2tog] twice, k6.
Row 4 K6, [yo, p2tog] twice.
Row 6 Bind off 3 sts loosely, one st on right needle, k2, [yo, p2tog] twice. 7 sts.
Work these 6 rows 109 more times. Bind off.
TO FINISH
Press squares pinning out decorative loops formed by the yarn over increases. Lay squares out in an oblong 4 squares wide by 8 squares long, making a pattern with the chain edge of the joins on WS as shown. Using lengths of yarn long enough to avoid joining in new yarn while sewing each seam, join first 8 pairs of blocks by oversewing the decorative loops together. Join squares for 2nd and 3rd long seams in the same way, then join the short seams. Placing cast-on edge in the center of one long side of the shawl and overlapping edging slightly, pin edging in place. Join cast-on and bound-off edges, then slip stitch edging in place.
TIPS
• You can adapt this design to make any size shawl or afghan. Just plan the number of squares required and allow one more ball of yarn for each 6 squares extra you need to make, plus an extra ball for the edging if your afghan is really big.
• If you want to make larger or smaller gst squares, increase each triangle until you have a multiple of 3 sts plus 2. You can then join the triangles in the same way as given.
Use this lightweight lacy knit as a shawl, a comforter, or an afghan.