Show off hand-dyed colours through the different stitches in this shawl:

Arcing lines of slipped stitches create long trails.

Dots of colour blend together in Garter Stitch panels.

Dashes of colour are shown off in the simple lace border.

The shawl makes a gentle crescent shape, so it sits beautifully around the shoulders. Starting at one narrow end, it’s knit all in one piece. There are no difficult stitches - this is an intermediate project.

The basic pattern is written for DK/light worsted yarn, knit to a loose gauge.

PLAY
At the end of every pattern in Knit Play Colour, you will find ideas on how to “play” with the design. Stick to what feels comfortable, or go on an adventure.

Play with your colour choice and blocking, as shown in the rust and purple shawls. Both are knit in the same type of DK singles, but semi-solid rust is knit loose and blocked hard to open up the lace mesh border. The variegated purple is knit firmly for textural, colour-flecked effect.

You can try different yarn weights and gauges. This pattern works beautifully from laceweight through to worsted/aran yarns.

All the information you need to “play” in these ways is given at the end of the pattern.

SIZES
140-180cm along top edge x 35-40cm at deepest point.

MATERIALS
Although the shawl is worked flat, you may find it easier to use a circular needle with 80cm/32” cable.
4 x ring stitch markers & locking stitch marker

Laceweight: allow one 100g skein with at least 800m/975yds on it and block it hard. Allow more for the largest size. Keep gauge loose so the shawl has a light airy feel. 3.5mm/US 4 needles and maximum 24sts per 10cm/4” over Garter Stitch.
4ply/fingering: allow 730-800m/800-875yds, or more for the largest size. 22 sts per 10cm/4” over Garter Stitch with 3.75mm/US 5 needles.
DK/light worsted: 600m/660yds. 18-22 sts per 10cm/4” on 4-5mm/US 6-8 needles, depending in how hard you want to block it.
Worsted/aran: 600m/660yds is ample. Use the gauge you like.

SHOWN IN
Rust Shawl: Madelinetosh Tosh Merino DK (100% superwash Merino wool, 206m/225yds per skein) 3 x Amber Trinket.
Gauge 18 sts per 10cm/4” over Garter Stitch using 5mm/US 8 needles.
180cm/72” along top edge x 40cm/16” at deepest point.
Blocked hard to open out the lace, which shows well in semi-solid colours.

PLAY IDEAS
Turquoise Shawl: EasyKnits Zip Light (100% superwash Merino, 220m/240yds per 100g skein) 3 x Banshee.
Gauge 22 sts per 10cm/4” over Garter Stitch using 4mm/US 6 needles.
150cm/60” along top edge x 35cm/14” at deepest point.
Unblocked, dense, colourful and textural.

To illustrate some of the other ideas for playing with the pattern, swatches in Ginger’s Hand Dyed Splendor 4ply and Fyberspates Gleem Lace are shown at bottom left, against the rust DK for comparison.

For more about playing with this pattern, including full details for these ideas, visit the Colour Trail blog post.

All details needed to make these options are included in the book. All patterns are tech edited and tested in a range of yarns.