Hazy Days shawl by Elizabeth Felgate

The mist of morning; the cloud passing over a summer sky. Sometimes you just need the lightest and most frivolous of wraps on hand to cover bare necks and shoulders. This delicate mohair and silk shawlette or scarf is simple to make, fully reversible, easy to resize and features a range of delicate mesh fabrics that are absolutely à la mode this summer.

Size

As written the pattern produces a small shawlette approx. 42 in/107cm along the top edge and 81 in/206cm along the bottom edge with a drop of 13.5 in/35cm. See below for information on adjusting for size.

Yarn

One 25g skein of Debbie Bliss Angel (24% silk, 76% mohair) laceweight yarn in Periwinkle – or other similar yarn. The sample shawl used just shy of one skein or 219 yds/200m

Needles

5 mm (US 8) circular needle or correct needle sizes to achieve gauge. You can use long flat needles if you prefer

Notions

tapestry needle; stitch markers

Gauge

18 sts to 4 in/10cm over firmly blocked garter stitch. Gauge is not critical for the fit of the item, although if you       want the shawl to fit into one skein you will need to take some account of this.

Abbreviations

Sl1– Slip one stitch as if to purl, with the yarn at the back of the work

Chart for Part Of Section 2

Pattern Notes

This pattern is worked flat from the center top down.

Instructions

Cast on

Cast on using the garter tab method {see our garter tab tutorial}:

1. Cast on 3 sts.
2. Work 6 rows in garter stitch
3. Turn work 90° clockwise, pick up and knit 3 sts along the edge (one in each purl of the garter stitch), and then pick up and knit 3 sts from the cast on edge.
4. You should now have 9 sts and a small wedge-shaped piece of knitting.
5. Sl1, k2, place marker (if desired), k3, place marker, k3.

An online tutorial for this method can be found here  but be sure to use the cast on and pick-up numbers as given above

Section 1

Stitch counts are given in parenthesis – the plus 6 is for your three edge sts on either side.

Row 1: 2 Sl1, k2, repeat (yo, k1) to last 3 sts, k3. (6+6)

Row 2: Sl1, knit to end

Row 3:  Sl1, k2, repeat (yo, k1) to last 3 sts, k3 (12+6)

Rows 4, 5 & 6:  Sl1 knit to end

Row 7: Sl1, k2, repeat (yo, k1) to last 3 sts, k3 (24+6)

Rows 8-14: Sl1 knit to end

Row 15: Sl1, k2, repeat (yo, k1) to last 3 sts, k3 (48+6)

Row 16: Sl1 knit to end

Row 17: Sl1, k2, repeat (yo, k2tog) to last 3 sts, k3

Row 18: Sl1 knit to end

Row 19: Sl1, k2, repeat (k2tog, yo) to last 3 sts, k3

Rows 20-30: Sl1 knit to end

Row 31: Sl1, k2, repeat (yo, k1) to last 3 sts, k3 (96+6)

Row 32: Sl1 knit to end

Section 2

Rows 33-40 repeat the following 4 rows 2 times (8 rows in total) – or use chart above.

Row 1: Sl1, k2, repeat (k2tog, yo twice, k2tog) to last 3 sts, k3.

Row 2: Sl1, k3, repeat ([p1, k1] in double yarnover from previous row, k2) to last 2 sts, k2.

Row 3: Sl1, k4, repeat (k2tog, yo twice, k2tog) to last 5 sts, k5.

Row 4: Sl1, k5, repeat ([p1, k1] in double yarnover from previous row, k2) to last 4 sts, k4.

Rows 41-50 (10 rows): Sl1, knit

Rows 51-60 repeat the 2 following rows 5 times (10 rows in total)

Row 1: Sl1, k2, repeat (yo, k1) to last 3 sts, k3

Row 2: Sl1, knit across dropping the yarn overs as you go

Row 61: Sl1, knit to end

Row 62: Sl1, k2, repeat (yo, k1) to last 3 sts, k3 (192+6)

Row 63: Sl1, knit to end

Section 3

Row 64-69 repeat these two rows 3 times (6 rows in total)

Row 1: Sl1, k2, repeat (yo twice, k1) to last 3 sts k3

Row 2: Sl1, knit across dropping the yarn overs as you go

Bind off

This bind off, known as the elastic bind off, creates a very stretchy edge to assist blocking. You can go up one or a few needle sizes to create an even more stretchy edge. Be sure to work loosely.

1. Knit two sts
2. Slip the sts on your right hand needle back to the left needle and knit them through the back loop
3. Knit one more st

Repeat steps 2 & 3 until only 1 st remains. Break your yarn and pull through the last stitch.

Finishing

Finishing instructions

Finishing

Weave in ends and block as follows:

1. Gently swish the shawl in warm water and baby shampoo in a sink or bath.
2. Drain the water and then gently press (do not wring) to squeeze out excess water.
3. Lift the shawl onto a towel
4. Spread the shawl out flat and then roll up the towel with the shawl inside
5. Jump up and down on the towel to press out as much moisture as possible
6. Spread out flat on a dry towel on a bed or carpet, yoga mat or any other surface you can stick pins into (special blocking mats are commercially available).
7. Pin down in a half circle or crescent shape, as desired, gradually adjusting the pins to pull the shawl out to its full extent. It should be tensioned quite firmly. To achieve the pointed edge simply pull the bottom edge into points.
8. Leave until completely dry before taking up.