The Pebbled Shawl was designed as the solution to a problem – how to use variegated yarn! We’ve all done it at one time or another – become smitten with an oh-so-pretty variegated skein and brought it home, only to find (to our utter disappointment) that it either pools unattractively or else the fabric looks like nothing in particular!
I had a skein of variegated with very short color changes that just didn’t work well in the usually recommended seed, moss or slip stitches – a frustrating puzzle which was only solved after much swatching. This shawl is the result.
It needs just 100 grams of variegated yarn, and 50 grams in a solid colour – perfect for using up those lone skeins! The asymmetrical crescent shape is easy to wear.
Best of all, this pattern is versatile – use the recommended needle size for a lacey shawl or go down a size or two to produce a more textured fabric that still retains plenty of drape. Size is adjustable – stop when you like or when you run out of yarn, or simply continue to desired size.
Tutorials
Size
60” [152.5cm] along top edge, 54” [137cm] along right edge, 46.5” [118cm] deep
Yarn
Valley Superwash DK Hand-dyed by the Kangaroo Dyer (100% superwash merino; 274 yards [250m]/100h); Tide Pool: 1 skein (MC).
Valley Superwash DK (100% superwash merino; 137 yards [125m]/50g); (28) Fawn: 1 skein (CC).
Thanks to Webs for providing the yarn and Laura for knitting the sample!
Needles
US 8 (5 mm) 32” circular needle or size to obtain gauge
This needle size will produce a lacey fabric. You may choose a needle one or two sizes smaller for a more textured fabric.
Notions
stitch markers; tapestry needle
Gauge
10 sts and 20 rows = 4” [10 cm] in Body Pattern, after blocking
Construction
- The asymmetric crescent shape shawl is worked sideways on the bias, beginning with just 3 stitches.
- On all RS rows, one stitch is increased at the beginning of the row. On all WS rows, one stitch is decreased at the beginning and one stitch is increased at the end of the row.
- Working DK yarn on a larger needle creates more texture and drape with the twisted (ktbl) sts, allowing the yarn colors to shine.
- The openwork sections in CC provide lightness and visual interest.
- Yarn colors are carried up on the WS: only a few ends to weave in.
- A picot bind offadds a decorative touch.
Abbreviations and techniques
Please see our standard abbreviations.
(kp)-in-1: k1, p1 into same st (1 st inc).
kbf: knit into the back then front of st (1 st inc).
Carrying yarn upwards along the right edge: At the beginning of a RS row when there is a color change, the old color is carried upwards behind the right edge. Knit the first st in the new color by picking it up from behind the old color. Then pick up the strand of the color not in use, bring it to the WS and drop it over and behind the working yarn (this twists the yarns together). Work the rest of the row as usual. From time to time, untwist the 2 skeins.
Body Pattern (4-row repeat)
Row 1 (RS): K1, (kp)-in-1, *k1tbl, p1; rep from * to last st, k1; (1 st inc).
Row 2 (WS):K1, k2tog, *p1, k1tbl, rep from * to last 3 sts, p1, (kp)-in-1, k1.
Row 3:K1, (kp)-in-1, *k1tbl, p1, rep from * to last 2 sts, k1tbl, k1; (1 st inc).
Row 4: K1, p2tog, *k1tbl, p1, rep from * to last 2 sts, (kp)-in-1, k1.
Color Pattern (10-row repeat)
Row 1 (RS): With CC, k1, pfb, purl to last st, k1; (1 st inc).
Row 2 (WS): K1, p2tog, purl to last 2 sts, pfb, k1.
Row 3: With MC, k1, (kp)-in-1, *k1tbl, p1; rep from * until 2 sts rem, k1tbl, k1(1 st inc).
Row 4: K1, p2tog, * k1tbl, p1; rep from * to last 2 sts, (kp)-in-1, k1.
Row 5 (eyelet row): With CC, k1, yo, p1, *yo, p2tog; rep from * to last st, k1; (1 st inc).
Row 6 (eyelet row): K1, k2tog, knit to last 2 sts (working into the yarn overs below without twisting them), kbf, k1.
Row 7: With MC, k1, (kp)-in-1, *k1tbl, p1; rep from * until 2 sts rem, k1tbl, k1; (1 st inc)
Row 8: K1, p2tog, * k1tbl, p1; rep from * to last 2 sts, (kp)-in-1, k1.
Rows 9 & 10 (eyelet rows):Rep Rows 5 & 6; (1 st inc).
Shawl Pattern
With MC, CO 3 sts.
Setup Rows
Setup Row 1 (RS):K1, kbf, k1; (4 sts).
Setup Row 2 (WS):Knit.
Setup Row 3: K1, kbf, k2; (5 sts)
Setup Row 4: K3, kbf, k1; (6 sts).
Setup Row 5: K1, kbf, k4; (7 sts).
Setup Row 6: K1, k2tog, k2, kbf, k1; (7 sts).
Body
April 12, 2019 – we changed Rows 27-38
Rows 1 – 16: With MC, work 4 reps (16 rows) of Body Pattern; (15 sts).
Rows 17 – 26: Work 1 rep (10 rows) of Color Pattern; (20 sts).
Rows 27-38: With MC, work Rows [3&4] in Body Pattern, then 2 reps of Rows [1-4], then work Rows [1&2] (12 rows); (26 sts).
Rows 39 & 40: With CC, work Rows [1&2] of Color Pattern; (27 sts).
Rows 41 – 48: With MC, work 2 reps (8 rows) of Body Pattern; (31 sts).
Rows 49 – 72: Rep Rows [17-40]; (43 sts)
Rows 73 – 84: With MC, work 3 reps (12 rows) of Body Pattern; (49 sts)
Rows 85 – 94: Work 1 rep (10 rows) of Color Pattern; (54 sts).
Rows 95 – 106: With MC, work Rows [3&4] of in Body Pattern, then 2 reps of Rows [1-4], then work Rows [1&2] (12 rows); (60 sts).
Rows 107 & 108: With CC, work Rows [1&2] of Color Pattern; (61 sts).
Rows 109 – 116: With MC, work 2 reps (8 rows) of Body Pattern; (65 sts).
Rows 117 & 118: With CC, work Rows [1&2] of Color Pattern; (66 sts).
Rows 119 & 120: With MC, work Rows [3&4] of Body Pattern; (67 sts).
Rows 121 & 122: With CC, work Rpws [5&6] of Color Pattern); (68 sts).
Rows 123 – 130: Rep Rows [119 – 122] twice (8 rows); (72 sts).
3 sets of eyelet rows have now been worked.
Rows 131 – 142: With MC, work Rows [3&4] of in Body Pattern, then 2 reps of Rows [1-4], then work Rows [1&2] (12 rows); (78 sts).
Rows 143 & 144: With CC, work Rows [1&2] of Color Pattern; (79 sts).
Rows 145 – 152: With MC, work 2 reps (8 rows) of Body Pattern; (83 sts).
Rows 153 – 162: Work 1 rep (10 rows) of Color Pattern; (88 sts).
Rows 163 – 174: With MC, work Rows [3&4] of in Body Pattern, then 2 reps of Rows [1-4], then work Rows [1&2] (12 rows); (94 sts).
Rows 175 & 176: With CC, work Rows [1&2] of Color Pattern; (95 sts).
Rows 177 – 180: With MC, work 1 rep (4 rows) of Body Pattern; (97 sts).
Rows 181& 182: With CC, work Rows [5&6] of Color Pattern; (98 sts).
Rows 183 – 190: Rep Rows [179 – 182] twice (8 rows); (102 sts).
3 sets of eyelet rows have now been worked.
Rows 191 – 202: With MC, work Rows [3&4] of in Body Pattern, then 2 reps of Rows [1-4], then work Rows [1&2] (12 rows); (108 sts)
Rows 203 & 204: With CC, work Rows [1&2] of Color Pattern; (109 sts).
Rows 205 – 207: With MC, work Row [1-3] of Body Pattern; (111 sts).
Join CC at right edge of work.
Row 208: K1, yo, p1, *yo, p2tog; rep from * to last st, k1; (112 sts).
Row 209: K1, k2tog, knit to last 2 sts (working into the yarn overs below without twisting them), kbf, k1; (112 sts). Do not cut yarn.
Picot bind off
With CC and using the knitted cast on, *CO 2 sts on the left needle, then BO 4 sts. Rep from * across row. For a neat look, keep the st on the right needle fairly snug.
Finishing
Block and weave in ends.
ABOUT THE DESIGNER: PADMA R
Padma likes to design wearables with a simple aesthetic which are fun to make and wear.
She thinks knitting, crochet and Tunisian crochet are equally absorbing and finds it exciting to be able to switch from one craft to another.
Her Ravelry user name is PadmaR.
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