Joyous Mermaid Shawl Pattern

Before You Start:

Made using our favorite Sparkle Lace Weight Silk Yarn, this knit shawl shimmers and shines in the sun. This whimsical garter and cabled lace asymmetrical shawl features a panel of lace on the right side of a center decrease line. The shawl is cast on from a small point of 7 stitches, knit up to 118 stitches, and worked even before a quick decrease to the end. It is designed to have a 55 inch (140 cm) wingspan, but this can be adjusted to preference by continuing Section 3 where yardage allows. The lace panel to the right of the center slipped stitch is a charted (only) cabled lace with a 24 row repeat over 39 stitches.

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Project Details:

Gauge: approximately 28 sts and 40 rows = 4 in (10 cm) garter st prior to blocking (Exact gauge is not critical to the finished object, but will alter the yardage required.)
Skill level: intermediate
Size: one size
Finished dimensions: 55 in (140 cm) long, 16 in (41 cm) at widest point

Materials:

Yarn: approximately 600 yards (548 meters) lace weight yarn, 2-skeins Sparkle Collection Lace Weight Silk Cloud by Darn Good Yarn (pictured in Tidal Pool)
Needle: US 4 (3.5 mm) 24 in (60 cm) or longer circular needle, or needle to obtain gauge
Notions: tapestry needle, stitch markers can be used to help with the lace pattern, cable needle

Abbreviations:

CO - cast on (long tail or preferred)
RS - right side
WS - wrong side
st(s) - stitch(es)
k - knit
p - purl
yo - yarn over
sl - slip stitch as if to purl (with yarn in front of work)
k2tog - knit two stitches together (right leaning decrease)
ssk - slip, slip, knit (left leaning decrease)
p2tog - purl two stitches together
kfb - make one by knitting in the front and back loop
wyif - with yarn in front
CDD - center double decrease - slip 2 stitches together as if to knit, knit 1, pass the 2 slipped stitches over the knit stitch together
CSS - center slipped stitch
C4F - cable 4 forward - move 2 stitches to cable needle and hold in front of work, knit next 2 stitches, knit 2 stitches from cable needle

Instructions:

Section 1: Shawl setup
CO 7 sts
Row 1 (RS): Sl1, kfb, CDD, kfb, k1
Row 2 (WS): Sl1, kfb, k to center st, sl1 wyif, k to last 2 sts, kfb, k1
Row 3: Sl1, kfb, k to 1 st before CSS, CDD , k to last 2 sts, kfb, k1
Row 4: Sl1, k to CSS, sl1 wyif, k to last 2 sts, k1, k1
Repeat Rows 3 & 4 until there is a total of 79 sts (39 right of center, 1 center slipped st, 39 left of center), ending after a Row 4.

Section 2: Lace and left increase
In Section 2, the right side of the shawl will no longer increase and maintain the 39 sts it currently has, while the left side will continue to increase. From here, the CSS will continue throughout the shawl, but may not “technically” be a center stitch.
All RS Rows: Follow charted lace pattern (page 4) until CSS (CDD is continued as charted), k to the last 2 sts, kfb, k1
All WS Rows: sl1, kfb, k to CSS, sl1 wyif, follow charted pattern for lace side
Repeat these two rows until there are 118 sts total (39 right of center, 1 center slipped st, 78 left of center).

Section 3: Lace and no increases
All RS Rows: Continue to follow charted pattern until CSS (CDD as charted), k to the last 2 sts, kfb, k1
All WS Rows: Sl1, k to CSS, sl1 wyif, follow charted pattern for lace side (note there are no increases on WS)
Repeat these two rows until the shawl measures 40 inches (1 meter), or desired length, from the cast on to working sts, measuring at the CSS.

Section 4: Lace and left double decrease
All RS Rows: Continue to follow charted pattern until CSS (CDD as charted), k to the last 3 sts, k2tog, k1
All WS Rows: Sl1, k to CSS, sl1 wyif, follow charted pattern for lace side
Repeat these two rows until the left side stitch count is 39, with a total stitch count of 79 sts (39 sts right of center, 1 center slipped st, 39 sts left of center).
Section 5: Garter double decreases
All RS Rows: Sl1, k2tog, k until 1 before CSS, CDD, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1
All WS Rows: Sl1, k to CSS, sl1 wyif, k to end
Repeat these two rows until there are 7 sts, ending after a WS row.