Study Break Shawl

This shawl was inspired by something mundane—carpet patterns! When I was traveling in Ireland, the carpet in my hotel had a fantastic yellow and gray pattern that I loosely interpreted into the colorwork for this shawl. This shawl is worked entirely in one piece, using stranded colorwork and a gradient set, curated by Space Cadet Yarns. Cast on for an adventure in Latvian braids, colorwork, and steeks: at the end of the shawl, you will steek the piece using a sewing machine and sharp scissors.

Size

One size, approx. 25” x 65″

Yarn

Space Cadet Yarns Capella (100% wool; 195 yards [178 meters]/100 grams): Dark Skies (MC), 3 balls

Space Cadet Yarns Vega (100% super wash merino wool; 218 yards [199 meters]/100 grams): Headstrong (CC), 1 ball; Mars (CC2), 1 ball; Oxblood (CC3), 1 ball; Troublemaker (CC4), 1 ball

We thank Space Cadet Yarns for the yarn sponsorship.

Needles

Size US 9 (5.5 mm): 24” circular and

Size US 8 (5.0 mm): 36” circular (or longer, if preferred)

Notions

Tapestry needle, stitch markers, size E crochet hook, scissors, spare sock yarn in a similar color for steeking

Gauge

23 sts and 21 rows = 4” [10 cm] in stranded colorwork in the round, in st st, after wet blocking.

Abbreviations

Please see our standard abbreviations.

Pattern Notes

This pattern is worked in the round from one end of the shawl to the other. The very beginning and end feature Latvian braids, and then the knitting transitions to the colorwork pattern. After binding off, steeks are worked to separate the tube into a rectangle. The shawl is finished with a knitted edge that is added to the steeked sides.

Chart

Pattern

Using MC, CO 97 sts, join to work in the rnd and pm for BOR.

Latvian braid:

Rnd 1: K all sts.

Rnd 2: P all sts.

Rnd 3: K1 with MC, join CC1, k1 with CC, cont across in this manner.

Rnd 4: Bring both yarns to front, p1 with MC, *bring CC under MC, p1 with CC, bring MC under CC, p1 with MC, rep from * to end.

Rnd 5: Bring both yarns to front, p1 with MC, *bring CC over MC, p1 with CC, bring MC over CC, p1 with MC, rep from * to end.

Setup rnd: with MC, K3, pm, k1, pm, *k18, pm, rep from * 4x more, k1, pm, k2.

Begin working colorwork using above chart. The steek panel is divided over 3 sts for the beg of the rnd and the rem 2 sts are at the end of the rnd. The gray no st in the chart indicates your markers, and the pattern repeat is indicated and is worked 5x across the rnd.

Work chart 3x for each color and only 2x for CC4, following this color progression: CC1, CC2, CC3, CC4, CC3, CC2, CC1.

Work 1 rnd in MC, and k all sts.

Work second Latvian braid as follows:

Rnd 1: K1 with MC, join CC1, k1 with CC, cont across in this manner.

Rnd 2: Bring both yarns to front, p1 with MC, *bring CC under MC, p1 with CC, bring MC under CC, p1 with MC, rep from * to end.

Rnd 3: Bring both yarns to front, p1 with MC, *bring CC over MC, p1 with CC, bring MC over CC, p1 with MC, rep from * to end.

Rnd 4: K all sts.

Rnd 5: P all sts.

BO all sts loosely.

Finishing

Weave in all ends, making sure to weave them away from the center seam.

Block to measurements.

Using crochet hook and spare sock yarn, crochet through half of stitch 2 and half of stitch 3 and work a sc in every set of stitches to the end. Rep for half of stitch 3 and half of stitch 4. (If you want to be extra sure your ends don’t go anywhere, reinforce the stitches on either side of your crochet with a sewing machine prior to cutting open the steeks.)

Cut very carefully down the center stitch.

Using size 8 needle and MC, *pick up and k 1 st in every row 7x, skip one row, rep from * to end.

K 3 rows. BO all sts loosely. Work the same on the other side.

Enjoy!