One of Shakespeare’s most memorable heroines is Lady Beatrice from Much Ado About Nothing. She is a proper and noble lady, but still a bit sassy. Her sharp tongue and her quick wit make her highly relatable. This simple crescent shawl reflects her character; the “proper” garter stitch body will keep the lady warm and respectable while the lace edging echoes the pointed, yet somewhat flirtatious, retorts she lobs at Benedick.

errata added June 18, 2017

Size

One size. Finished dimensions: 68.5 in/174 cm wingspan (width across the top edge); 16.5 in/42 cm drop (depth in the center back)

Yarn

Valley Yarns Sunderland (100% baby alpaca; 109 yd/100 m per 50 g) 4 skeins in Plum.

Thanks to Webs for their generous support!

Needles

Size US 8 (5.0 mm): straight and 24” circular

Notions

Stitch markers, tapestry needle, blocking pins and mats

Gauge

18 sts and 24 rows = 4” [10 cm] in stockinette stitch

18 sts and 26 rows = 4” [10 cm) in garter stitch.

Abbreviations

Please see our standard abbreviations.

yo2x – Yarn over, wrapping yarn around needle twice.

Dec 5 to 1 – K2tog, return stitch to left needle, pass next three sts on left needle over, one at a time. Return stitch to right needle. (4 sts decreased)

Beatrice Lace Chart

Beatrice Lace Written Instructions

Row 1 (RS): Sl1, k2, (yo, k2tog) twice, k1, yo2x, k2tog twice, yo, k2. (15 sts)

Row 2: K5, (p1, k1) twice into yo2x, k8 (17 sts)

Row 3: Sl1, k3, (yo, k2tog) twice, k5, k2tog, yo, k2.

Row 4 (and WS rows through Row 18): Knit.

Row 5: Sl1, k4, (yo, k2tog) twice, k4, k2tog, yo, k2.

Row 7: Sl1, k5, (yo, k2tog) twice, k3, k2tog, yo, k2.

Row 9: Sl1, k6, (yo, k2tog) twice, k2, k2tog, yo, k2.

Row 11: Sl1, k7, (yo, k2tog) twice, k1, k2tog, yo, k2.

Row 13: Sl1, k8, (yo, k2tog) twice, k2tog, yo, k2.

Row 15: Sl1, k9, (yo, k2tog) twice, k1, yo, k2. (18 sts)

Row 17: Sl1, k10, yo, k2tog, Dec 5 to 1. (14 sts)

Row 18: Knit.

Pattern Notes

Worked sideways from a small cast on, this shallow crescent features an i-cord edging at the top edge for a clean presentation and a lace edging that is worked in line with the piece. Because of the construction, it is easy to modify the depth to your personal taste or the amount of yarn you have. Skills needed: basic stitches and an understanding of basic lace – k, p, kfb, yo, yo2x, k2tog. A relaxing knit suitable to all but the newest beginner.

Stitches are slipped purlwise with yarn in back. 

Shawl

CO 19 sts, using a flexible cast on.

Set up Row (WS): K to last 5 sts, pm, k3, p2.

Increasing Section

Row 1: Sl2, k1, kfb, k to marker, sm, work next row of Beatrice Lace using written or charted instructions below. (1 st increased)

Row 2: Work next row of Beatrice lace to marker, sm, k to last 2 sts, p2.

Rep these two rows until you have completed six repeats of Beatrice Lace. (74 sts)

Straight Section

Row 1: Sl2, k to marker, sm, work next row of Beatrice Lace as est.

Row 2: Work next row of Beatrice lace to marker, sm, k to last 2 sts, p2.

Rep these two rows until you have completed eight reps of Beatrice Lace in the Straight section (14 lace repeats total; piece measures approximately 36 inches from cast on edge) or piece is approximately three-fourths of the desired length (Total desired length minus length of shawl at desired depth).

Decreasing Section

Row 1: Sl2, k to marker, sm, work next row of Beatrice Lace as est.

Row 2: Work next row of Beatrice lace to marker, sm, k to last 5 sts, k2tog tbl, k1 p2. (1 st dec’d)

Repeat these two rows until you have completed six repeats of Beatrice Lace and there are 19 sts remaining.

Finishing

Bind off loosely using a stretchy bind off.

Block shawl to dimensions, blocking top edge straight and pinning each point to open lace.