Penobscot Bay Shawl Pattern by Rachel C. Brown: A Customizable Knitting Design Inspired by Maine's Coastline

Penobscot Bay Shawl by Rachel C. Brown

I grew up visiting my grandparents every summer on Penobscot Bay in east-central Maine. The days were full of climbing around on the beach, finding periwinkle shells and mussels, digging in the seaweed for crabs, and watching the ceaseless waves pound against the granite and schist where the rocky land meets the sea. This shawl was inspired by those endlesswaves. Copyright 2011 Rachel C. Brown/Porpoise Designs. All rights reserved. Pattern may not be used to create items for sale or distribution without prior written permission from the author.

SKILLS NEEDED

Casting on, knit, purl, yarn over, binding off. The shawl is worked from the top (back of neck) down to the hem, and is adaptable to any weight of yarn and any gauge. This pattern is suitable for beginners.

MATERIALS

Yarn: this pattern will work with approximately 440-500 yds/400-460 m of any weight yarn. Shawl pictured is worked in Orkney Angora St. Magnus DK, 218 yds/199 m per 50 gr, 1 ball navy and 1 ball white Needles: US 7/4.5 mm and US 9/5.5 mm circular needles for DK weight yarn. Gauge is not terribly important for this pattern, but try a needle size somewhat larger then recommended on the ball band for your yarn to give a nice, drapey fabric. Use the size recommended on the ball band as a starting point. Notions: stitch markers, tapestry needle for weaving in ends. Finished dimensions: the size of your shawl will vary, depending on your gauge and yarn weight. To give you an idea of the size with the given yardages, here are some measurements from my test knitters:

PATTERN NOTES

This shawl pattern is totally customizable - work it in one color or an entire rainbow. Use a single skein of luxurious sock yarn or haul out some aran weight left over from a sweater for a more substantial wrap. When its big enough (or you're worried about running out of yarn), work the garter stitch border and bind off. Simple! Always work first and last 3 stitches of each row in garter stitch (knit every row) Use the larger size needles for binding off to ensure a loose enough bind off row for blocking

ABBREVIATIONS

k - knit yo - yarn over PM - place marker pm - pass marker MC - main color CC － contrasting colorRS - right side WS - wrong side Copyright 2011 Rachel C. Brown/Porpoise Designs. All rights reserved. Pattern may not be used to create items for sale or distribution without prior written permission from the author.

PATTERN

With MC (navy): cast on 3 stitches, work 6 rows in garter stitch. On the next row: knit 3, turn work 90 degrees, pick up one stitch in each garter row, pick up 3 stitches along cast-on edge - 9 stitches total Set up rows: RS: k3, yo, PM, k1, yo, PM, k1, yo, PM, k1, yo, k3 WS: k3, purl to last three stitches, k3

Pattern rows: RS: k3, yo, [work to marker, yo, pm, k1, yo], repeat to last three stitches, yo, k3. WS: k3, purl to last 3 stitches, k3. These two rows are repeated for the rest of the shawl. After 12 pattern rows, switch to next color asfollows: RS: work as normal using MC. WS: knit all stitches with CC (white). Resume working in pattern rows for 12 rows with CC. Switch back to MC in same fashion: RS: work as normal using CC. WS: knit all stitches with MC.

One easy way to keep track of when you need to switch colors is to count the holes left by the yarn overs - when you've done 6 yarn overs of 1 color, it's time to switch on the next wS row. If you're using a single color, make sure to work the knit rows on the wrong side to give a bit of interest and texture to your shawl. Continue in this fashion, working a knit row on the WS every 12 rows, until you get low on yarn. Work one last band of stockinette, and with the next WS knit row, work 6 rows of garter stitch (knit every row). Using the larger size needle, bind off loosely in knit on the WS. Weave in ends and block as desired.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank my test knitters from the Ravelry Free Pattern Testers group, balinan, SeaHawk and YarnForEveryone. Thanks also to my mother for modeling. Copyright 2011 Rachel C. Brown/Porpoise Designs. All rights reserved. Pattern may not be used to create items for sale or distribution without prior written permission from the author.