[pattern] States of Matter Shawl

In physics, a state of matter is one of the distinct forms in which matter can exist. During our everyday lives, we can observe four of them: solid, liquid, gas and plasma.

This top-down shawl explores those four states through a combination of different stitches and shaping for each. Solid is expressed with a dense, crossed stitch and traditional full circle pi shawl with a slit to aid in ease of wearing. Liquid uses elongated stitches to mimic waves in water and convert the shawl to a full square. Gas utilizes regularly spaced increases around four spines and a combination of garter stitch and lace. Finally, Plasma inserts additional panels over those spine stitches.

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Yarn

Valley Yarns Charlemont (60% Fine Superwash Merino Wool, 20% Mulberry Silk, 20% Polymide; 439 yds [401 m]/100 g): Color #12 Navy Blue (MC), 1 skein, Color #11 Teal Blue (CC1), 1 skein, Color #10 Whipple Blue (CC2), 1 skein, Thistle (CC3) 1 skein.

Needle

Size US 5 (3.75mm) needles, 24″ or longer (60cm) circulars

Or size needed to obtain gauge

Gauge

20 sts and 34 rows = 4″ [10cm] in overall patt after blocking

Size

22″ [56 cm] drop, 96″ [244 cm] bottom circumference

Notions

Tapestry needle, stitch markers, smooth waste yarn for provisional cast on.

Tutorials

Garter Tab Cast On

No Stitches in Knitting Charts

CDD (Centered Double Decrease)

Provisional Cast On

Lace Knitting 101How to read a Knitting Chart

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About the Designer: Mary E. Rose

Mary learned to knit as a young child and it has had an impact on her life ever since. As a teen, when her friends were getting jobs at fast food restaurants, Mary worked at her LYS, where the hours and working conditions were much better.

As with many knitters, when she couldn’t find patterns for what she wanted to knit, she started designing her own.

She currently lives in Central Ohio with her three children, who also craft. She can be found on Ravelry and her blog, or with knitting needles in hand, guarding her stash.