The Assassin’s Daughter Shawl

The Assassin’s Daughter

Another shawl named for a character in C. J. Cherryh’s “Foreigner” books. If you’re familiar with the books, you’ll know who the character is. If not, spoilers! This is what I call “TV knitting” – garter stitch body and a simple two-row pattern repeat. I feel it’s easy enough for a beginning knitter to tackle. A very simple shawl pattern with a knit-as-you-go border.

Materials:
3 to 7 skeins of Caron Simply Soft Paints 5 oz/141 g, 250 yds/228 m, colorway 21004 “Oceana”
or equivalent yardage of worsted weight yarn, depending on how big you want your shawl.
US6/4.0 mm 40-inch circular needle
2 Stitch markers

Abbreviations:
P# – place marker
# – marker

Shawl Body
Cast on 3, knit a row, purl a row.
Row 1: k1, yo, k1, yo, k1 (5 stitches)
Row 2: purl
Row 3: k1, yo, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1 (9 stitches)
Row 4: purl
Row 5: k4, yo, kfb, yo, k4 (12 stitches)
Row 6: purl
Row 7: k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, p#, yo, k1, yo, p#, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk. (14 stitches)
Row 8: p5, k3, p5
Row 9: k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, #, yo, k3, yo, #, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk. (16 stitches)
Row10: p5, k5 , p5
Row 11: k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, #, yo, k5, yo, #, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk. (18 stitches)
Row 12: p5, k7, p5
Row 13: k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, #, yo, knit til marker, yo, #, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk.
Row 14: p5, #, knit til marker, #, p5

Repeat rows 13 and 14 until the shawl is the size you want. If you’re going to wear it around your neck, you might want to make it smaller; if you plan to wear it as an actual shawl, you might want to make it bigger. End on a row 13 repeat.

Top Border
Row 1: p5, #, k1, *yo, k2tog, repeat from * until 5 stitches remain, yo, k1, #p5.
Row 2: k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, #, yo, purl until 5 stitches remain, yo, #, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk.
Row 3: p5, #, knit until 5 stitches remain, #p5.
Row 4: k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, #, *yo, k2tog, repeat from * until 5 stitches remain, yo, #, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk.
Row 5: purl
Row 6: knit.
Row 7: purl
Bind off knitwise.
** If you like to wear your shawls in a scarf-like fashion up around your neck, stop at 3 skeins for a smaller version.  If you like to wear your shawls like a cape, use 5 or even 7 skeins.

Malguri Morning

This triangular garter-stitch shawl is simple and quick, yet thick and warm, just right for those mountain morning breakfasts on the terrace. It has a 2-stitch stockinette edging that is intended to roll, making a nice border.  It is named for Ilisidi’s mountain fortress, “Malguri,” from the C. J. Cherryh Foreigner books (recommended reading!).

Materials:
8 skeins of Loops and Threads Charisma, bulky:5, 3.5 oz./100 g, 109 yd./100 m, Color: Mulberry Bush
US size 10 (6.0 mm) 29-inch and 45-inch circular knitting needles.

Cast on 3 stitches.
Row 1: kfb, k1, kfb (5 stitches)
Row 2: P2, k1, p2
Row 3: k1 kfb, k1, kfb, k1 (7 stitches)
Row 4: P2, k3, p2
Row 5: k1, kfb, knit until 3 stitches left on row, kfb, k2
Row 6: P2, knit until 2 stitches left on needle, p2.
Repeat rows 5 and 6 until shawl has reached the desired dimensions (or until all the yarn you have left is a ball about the size of an orange) .

Finishing: After an even numbered row, knit 1 row, bind off in this manner: *P2tog, slip stitch just worked back onto left needle, p2tog, repeat from * to end of the row. Weave in ends.  Enjoy!

Made with Loops & Threads Charisma Yarn, colors Northern Light (variegated), and Electric Blue (solid).

Cobblestone Pie Afghan/Washcloth

The weight yarn and size needles you use will determine how this turns out. Baby yarn (Fine:3) on a US 8 or 9 needle knit to about a 3-foot diagonal measurement will be a light and lacy baby blanket. Bulky yarn (Bulky:5) on a US size 10 or 13 to a 4- or 5-foot diagonal will be a thick and heavy afghan/throw. Cotton worsted on a US 5 or 6 to an 8- or 10-inch diagonal will make a nice washcloth. You will have to calculate the amount of yarn you will need from a gauge swatch made from similar weight yarn.

Beginning:
Cast on 3 stitches
Row 1: K1, kfb, k1
Row 2: Knit. (4 stitches)
Row 3: K1, k2fb, k1
Row 4: Knit (6 stitches)
Row 5: K3, yo, k3
Row 6: Knit (7 stitches)
Row 7: k3, yo, k1, yo, k3
Row 8: Knit (9 stitches)
Row 9: K3, p1, k1, p1, k3
Increase:
Row 10: K3, yo, knit until 3 stitches left on the row, yo, k3
Row 11: K3, *p1, k1, repeat from * until 4 stitches left on row, p1, k3
Repeat rows 10 and 11 until you reach the diagonal width you desire. After you have finished an odd numbered row, begin decrease:
Decrease:
Row 12: K2, k2tog, yo, k2tog, knit until 6 stitches left on the row, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k2
Row 13: K3, *p1, k1, repeat from * until 4 stitches left on row, p1, k3
Repeat rows 12 and 13 until 9 stitches left on row.
Finishing:
Row 14: K2, k2tog, k3tog, k2tog, k2. (7 stitches)
Row 15: k2, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k2 (6 stitches)
Row 16: K1, k2tog, k2tog, k1
Row 17: k2tog, k2tog.
Row 18: K2tog.
Bind off and weave in ends.

Cobblestone Pie Shawl with Garter Stitch Edging

This pattern takes about 3-4 skeins of knitting worsted weight (Medium:4) yarn on a size US 8 (5.0 mm) or 9 (5.5 mm).  You can go with Fine or even Fingering weight yarn on either a large or small needle if you want light and lacy.  If you want thick and warm, go with a heavier weight (Bulky:5 yarn) on a larger (US 10 or 13 — 6.0 mm or 9.0 mm) needle.  You will have to do a gauge swatch with yarn of the same weight to calculate how much yarn to buy.  To calculate the area of a triangle, see here:

Cast on 3 stitches
Row 1: K1, kfb, k1
Row 2: Knit. (4 stitches)
Row 3: K1, k2fb, k1
Row 4: Knit (6 stitches)
Row 5: K3, yo, k3
Row 6: Knit (7 stitches)
Row 7: k3, yo, k1, yo, k3
Row 8: Knit (9 stitches)
Row 9: K3, p1, k1, p1, k3
Row 10: K3, yo, knit until 3 stitches left on the row, yo, k3
Row 11: K3, *p1, k1, repeat from * until 4 stitches left on row, p1, k3
Repeat rows 10 and 11 until piece is the size you want.
Row 12: K3, yo,*k1, yo, repeat from * until 3 stitches left on row, k3.
Row 13: K3, drop yo, *k1, drop yo, repeat from * until 3 stitches left on row, k3.
Row 14: Knit.
Row 15: Knit.
Bind off, weave in ends.

Cobblestone Pie Triangular Shawl

Cobblestone Pie Shawl

Materials: 3 skeins of knitting worsted, size US10(6.0 mm) 36-inch circular needle.

Cast on 3 stitches.
Row 1: kfb, k1, kfb (5)
Row 2: P2, k1, p2
Row 3: k1 k2fb, k2 (7)
Row 4: P2, k1, p1, k1, p2
Row 5: k1, kfb, knit until 3 stitches left on row, kfb, k2
Row 6: P2, *(k1, p1) repeat from * until 3 stitches left on needle, k1, p2.

Repeat rows 5 and 6 until shawl has reached the desired dimensions.

Finishing: Knit a row, purl a row, Knit a row,
Bind off in this manner: *P2tog, slip stitch just worked back onto left needle, p2tog, repeat from * to end of the row.

Note:  The 2-stitch stockinette edging on either side , as well as the top border of stockinette are going to curl/roll because unblocked stockinette will do that.  This is intentional, and creates a nice rolled edge.

Rolanni’s Necklet

This little scarf was named in honor of author Sharon Lee, whose nom de blog is “Rolanni.”

Yarn: 2 skeins Premier Yarn’s Deborah Norville Everyday, weight 4 medium, 3.5 oz/100 g, 180 yds/165 m, color: Lagoon.
Needles: Size US7(4.5 mm) 29-inch (or longer) circular needle.

Cast on 3 stitches by either the long-tail or chain cast-on method.
Row 1. K1, yo, k1, yo, k1. (5)
Row 2. Purl.
Row 3. (K1, yo) x3, k2. (8)
Row 4, Purl.
Row 5. K1, (K1, yo) x3, ssk, k1, k2tog. (9)
Row 6. K3, p5, k2.
Row 7. K2, (K1, yo) 3 times, ssk, yo, k1, k2tog. (11)
Row 8. K5, p5, k3.
Row 9. K3, (K1, yo) 3 times, ssk, k1, yo, ssk, k2tog. (13)
Row 10. K5, p5, k4.
Row 11. K4, (K1, yo) 3 times, k3, yo, ssk, K1, kfb, k2tog. (19)
Row 12. K6, p5, k5.
Row 13. K4(K1, yo) 3 times, ssk, K3, yo, ssk, k2tog. (21)
Row 14. K7, purl until 5 left, k5.
Row 15. K4, (K1, yo) 3 times, knit until 9 stitches remain, yo, ssk, k3, yo, ssk, K2tog
Row 16. K7, purl until 5 stitches left, K5.
Repeat rows 15 and 16 until the piece is large enough to suit.

Finishing:
With right side facing:
Row 1: K4, (K1, yo) x3, *(ssk, yo) repeat from *until 9 stitches left, yo, ssk, k3, yo, ssk, k2tog.
Row 2: Knit
Row 3: K2tog, k2, (K1, yo) x3, knit until 9 stitches left, yo, ssk, k3, yo, ssk, k2tog.
Row 4: Knit
Row 5: K2tog, k1, (K1, yo) x3, knit until 2 stitches left, k2tog.
Row 6: Knit
Row 6: K2tog, (k1, yo) x3, knit until 2 stitches left, k2tog.
Row 6: Bind off knitwise loosely.

Your Common or Garden-Variety Prayer Shawl

This is a dead easy triangular shawl in garter stitch for an absolute beginner.  All you need to know to do this project is casting on, knit, yarn over, and binding off.  That’s it.  It’s also a great stashbuster project.

Note:  Skinny yarn on big needles makes a delicate and lacy shawl; skinny yarn on small needles makes a thin, lightweight shawl that takes a long time to finish; fat yarn on big needles makes a thick, heavy shawl that is quick to knit; worsted weight yarn on medium size needles makes a medium weight shawl. You can use odds and ends of leftover yarn that are similar in weight to make a colorful striped shawl.

Materials:  Any kind of yarn(s) you want to use in any color(s) you like.

Needles:  A circular knitting needle at least 29 inches long in any needle size you like.

Cast on 2 stitches.

Row 1:  K1, yo, knit to the end of the row.

Repeat row 1 until the shawl is the size you want it.  Bind off.

 

 

Threepers Creepers Stockinette Shawlette

Threepers Creepers Shawlette

I decided to write a pattern for one of those asymmetrical shawlettes or scarflets that are all the rage now.  This is a good intro to basic lace work.  The shawlette has openwork edges, and a stockinette body.  Once you’ve done the first 12 rows and established the borders, it’s just a two row pattern repeat until the finishing bit.  It looks a lot more complicated than it actually is.  This is a good take-along to knit while you wait, in the car, etc.

Materials (For the piece shown in picture):
1 skein Red Heart “Gumdrop” worsted (4) weight, 4 oz/113 g, 204 yds/187 m, Color: Grape
Circular needle: US size 5/3.75 mm

Cast on 3 stitches using either long tail cast on or cable cast on.
Row 1. K1, yo, k1, yo, k1. (5)
Row 2. Purl
Row 3. K1, yo, K1, yo, k1, k2tog. (6)
Row 4, Purl
Row 5. K1, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, yo k2tog. (7)
Row 6. Purl.
Row 7. (K1, yo) 3 times, k2tog, yo, k2tog. (9)
Row 8. Purl.
Row 9. (K1, yo) 3 times, K2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog. (11)
Row 10. Purl.
Row 11. (K1, yo) 3 times, k2, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog (13)
Row 12. Purl.
Row 13. (K1, yo) 3 times, k2tog, knit until 6 stitches remain, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, K2tog
Row 14. Purl.

Repeat rows 13 and 14 until the piece is large enough to suit. Make sure you end on a row with an even number of stitches.

Finishing:
With right side facing:
Row 1: *K2tog, yo, repeat from * to end of row.
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: *K2tog, yo, repeat from * to end of row.
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5. Bind off knitwise.

Block as required.

Note:  You can use a finer weight of yarn and larger needles for a lacy effect, or large needles and a bulkier yarn for a different effect.  However, you’ll need to work out some kind of estimate of how much yarn you’ll need.  Better to buy too much than not enough. . .

Abbreviations:
yo – yarn over
k2tog – knit 2 stitches together.
() – parentheses. Repeat the stitches between the parentheses the stated number of times.