STORMY SKY SHAWL

 

Stormy Sky is a lightweight, asymmetrical shawl, it’s dynamic and modern. Knitted from the corner in a shape of a skewed triangle, it makes a great and fast project for that one very special skein of yarn. Alternation of sections creates nice texture and is rather easy to memorize. Tassels can be added to make corners look more polished.

I created this design to unravel the beauty of the one skein of Malabrigo Mechita in the new colorway Storm. Simple lace highlights the color changes in variegated yarn, but does not overspice it. For my pattern testknit I used Mirasol Yarns Sulka Legato in solid mustard color. As the yardage of this yarn for the same 3.5oz/100g is larger, the second shawl came out a bit longer.

This pattern can be used as a base for experiments, as neither yarn weight nor gauge is critical. The number of section repeats can be adjusted as well, depending on the desired size of the finished shawl.

 
 
 

YARN

  • Grey: 1 skein of Malabrigo Mechita (100% superwash merino wool, 3.5oz./100g, 420yds/384 m) in color Storm

  • Mustard: 2 skeins of Mirasol Yarn Sulka Legato (60% merino wool, 20% silk, 20% alpaca, 1.76oz/50g, 274yds/251m) in color 21.

  • Any fingering weight yarn will work fine. The pattern can be modified for another yarn weight and yardage.

NEEDLES

  • US9/5.5mm needles

  • For any other yarn: use needles at least three sizes up from stated on the label to keep fabric airy and light

NOTIONS

  • Scissors

  • A piece of cardboard for tassels

  • Tapestry needle

  • Blocking mats and pins

GAUGE

  • 18 sts and 24 rows in 4”/10cm in Garter Stitch, blocked

  • Is not crucial and can be changed to fit the desired yarn

FINISHED SIZE

  • Grey: 75”/190cm long +tassels, 28”/71cm in the widest part

  • Mustard: 77.6”/197cm long +tassels, 30.3”/77cm wide

 
 
 
 

Notes

  • The shawl is knitted from the right corner with increases at the end of every RS row. Increases are made in the form of k1fb unless stated otherwise.

  • The neat braid-like edge of the shawl created by the slipped first stitches. In every row first st is slipped as if to purl wyif, and every last st is knitted.

  • Row count is included in the pattern, but is not crucial and can be changed depending on the yarn/gauge/desired size of a shawl. The usual text corresponds to the grey sample shawl. The text in Italic is added for your convenience and can be used for additional rows. The mustard shawl was finished at the row 338 of the pattern.

  • If you’d like to make tassels, save yarn for them in advance: 2 tassels require approximately 26ft (8m). Here is the Tassel Tutorial.

  • Share your creations on Instagram using #stormyskyshawl hashtag.

 

Pattern

 

SET UP

Cast on 3 sts.

R0 (WS): k3
R1 (RS): sl1wyif, k2
R2 (WS): sl1wyif, k2
R3 (RS): sl1wyif, k1fb, k1 (4sts)
R4 (WS): sl1wyif, k3
R5 (RS): sl1wyif, k until last 2sts, k1fb, k1 (5sts)
R6 (WS): sl1wyif, k until the end of the row
Continue in this manner until there are 10sts on the needle:
R7, 9, 11, 13, 15 (RS): as Row 5
R8, 10, 12, 14, 16 (WS): as Row 6 (10sts)

BODY OF A SHAWL

The shawl is knitted by implementing 4 Stripe Patterns in this order:
8 rows: Garter Stripe 1
2 rows: Dropped Stitch Stripe
8 rows: Garter Stripe 2
6 rows: Yarn Over Stripe

  • The number of repetitions may vary depending on the yarn, gauge, and desired size of the shawl. In the row count, the usual text corresponds to the grey sample shawl. The text in Italic is added for your convenience and can be used for additional rows. The mustard shawl was finished at the row 338 of the pattern.

  • Regardless of the yarn choice or gauge, the last stripe of the shawl has to be a Garter Stripe. This will help keep the shape of the finished garment.

STRIPE PATTERNS

GARTER STRIPE 1 (8 rows, +4sts)

R1, 3, 5, 7 (RS): sl1wyif, k until last 2sts, k1fb, k1
R2, 4, 6, 8 (WS): sl1wyif, k until the end of the row

DROPPED STITCH STRIPE (2 rows, +1st)

R1 (RS): sl1wyif, (k1, yo2) until last 2sts, k1fb, k1
R2 (WS): sl1wyif, p across, dropping yarn overs
off the needle until last 1 stitch, k1   

GARTER STRIPE 2 (8 rows, +4sts)

R1, 3, 5, 7 (RS): sl1wyif, k until last 2sts, k1fb, k1
R2, 4, 6 (WS): sl1wyif, k until end of the row  
R8 (WS): sl1wyif, p until last 1 stitch, k1         

YARN OVER STRIPE (6 rows, +3sts)

R1 (RS):  sl1wyif, (k2tog, yo) until last 2sts, k1fb, k1
R2 (WS): sl1wyif, p until last 1 stitch, k1
R3 (RS):  sl1wyif, (k2tog, yo) until last 3sts, k1, k1fb, k1
R4 (WS): sl1wyif, p until last 1 stitch, k1
R5 (RS):  sl1wyif, k1, (yo, k2tog) until last 3sts, yo, k3
R6 (WS): sl1wyif, p until last 1 stitch, k1         

ROW COUNT

R17-24: Garter Stripe 1 (14sts)
R25-26: Dropped Stitch Stripe (15sts)
R27-34: Garter Stripe 2 (19sts)
R35-40: Yarn Over Stripe (22sts)

R41-48: Garter Stripe 1 (26sts)
R49-50: Dropped Stitch Stripe (27sts)
R51-58: Garter Stripe 2 (31sts)
R59-64: Yarn Over Stripe (34sts)

R65-72: Garter Stripe 1 (38sts)
R73-74: Dropped Stitch Stripe (39sts)
R75-82: Garter Stripe 2 (43sts)
R83-88: Yarn Over Stripe (46sts)

R89-96: Garter Stripe 1 (50sts)
R97-98: Dropped Stitch Stripe (51sts)
R99-106: Garter Stripe 2 (55sts)
R107-112: Yarn Over Stripe (58sts)

R113-120: Garter Stripe 1 (62sts)
R121-122: Dropped Stitch Stripe (63sts)
R123-130: Garter Stripe 2 (67sts)
R131-136: Yarn Over Stripe (70sts)

R137-144: Garter Stripe 1 (74sts)
R145-146: Dropped Stitch Stripe (75sts)
R147-154: Garter Stripe 2 (79sts)
R155-160: Yarn Over Stripe (82sts)

R161-168: Garter Stripe 1 (86sts)
R169-170: Dropped Stitch Stripe (87sts)
R171-178: Garter Stripe 2 (91sts)
R179-184: Yarn Over Stripe (94sts)

R185-192: Garter Stripe 1 (98sts)
R193-194: Dropped Stitch Stripe (99sts)
R195-202: Garter Stripe 2 (103sts)
R203-208: Yarn Over Stripe (106sts)

R209-216: Garter Stripe 1 (110sts)
R217-218: Dropped Stitch Stripe (111sts)
R219-226: Garter Stripe 2 (115sts)
R227-232: Yarn Over Stripe (118sts)

R233-240: Garter Stripe 1 (122sts)
R241-242: Dropped Stitch Stripe (123sts)
R243-250: Garter Stripe 2 (127sts)
R251-256: Yarn Over Stripe (130sts)

R257-264: Garter Stripe 1 (134sts)
R265-266: Dropped Stitch Stripe (135sts)
R267-274: Garter Stripe 2 (139sts)
R275-280: Yarn Over Stripe (142sts)

R281-288: Garter Stripe 1 (146sts)
R289-290: Dropped Stitch Stripe (147sts)
R291-298: Garter Stripe 2 (151sts)
R299-304: Yarn Over Stripe (154sts)

R305-312: Garter Stripe 1 (158sts)
R313-314: Dropped Stitch Stripe (159sts)
R315-322: Garter Stripe 2 (163sts)
R323-328: Yarn Over Stripe (166sts)

R329-336: Garter Stripe 1 (170sts)
R337-338: Dropped Stitch Stripe (171sts)
R339-346: Garter Stripe 2 (175sts)
R347-352: Yarn Over Stripe (178sts)

R353-360: Garter Stripe 1 (182sts)
R361-362: Dropped Stitch Stripe (183sts)
R363-370: Garter Stripe 2 (187sts)
R371-376: Yarn Over Stripe (190sts)

R377-384: Garter Stripe 1 (194sts)
R385-386: Dropped Stitch Stripe (195sts)
R387-394: Garter Stripe 2 (199sts)
R395-400: Yarn Over Stripe (202sts)

R401-408: Garter Stripe 1 (206sts)
R409-410: Dropped Stitch Stripe (207sts)
R411-418: Garter Stripe 2 (211sts)
R419-424: Yarn Over Stripe (214sts)

R425-432: Garter Stripe 1 (218sts)
R433-434: Dropped Stitch Stripe (219sts)
R435-442: Garter Stripe 2 (223sts)
R443-448: Yarn Over Stripe (226sts)


FINISHING

Regardless of the yarn choice or gauge the last stripe of the shawl has to be a Garter Stripe. This will help keep the shape of the finished garment.

Bind off very (!) loosely:
R289 (RS): k1, (slip st back to left needle, k2tog) until 1st is left.
Cut yarn leaving appr.8”(20cm) tail and pull it through the loop of the last stitch.
Wash the shawl in 30°C (86F) water and block into shape. Moderate stretching is recommended to open up the lace stripes and Garter stitch.

Make 2 tassels appr. 3”(7.5cm) long and secure them with the ends of working yarn at the beginning and end of the shawl. Here is the Tassel Tutorial. Hide the ends of yarn in the tassels.