This extraordinarily simple barely-a-pattern uses marker placement in relation to columns of yarn overs to create a natural spiral. The increases make the markers slowly drift across the plain garter stitch shawl.

You can use any weight yarn, needle size and gauge you like to make drifters of any size, making this a great project for handspun yarn of varying thickness and unknown yardage. Simple garter stitch looks great with hand dyed yarns that might clash with a more complicated stitch, or it can be used as a blank canvas for your own stitch patterns or embellishments.

The shawl pictured uses three skeins of super soft Malabrigo Finito in colors Jupiter, Chispas and Glitter, working with one color at a time until it runs out to create naturally reducing stripes. A gauge of about 5.5 sts to the inch, which is close to the manufacturer’s recommended gauge, keeps the shawl warm and practical without being stiff.