Modifying a pattern to be a lace pattern was a push for me. I wanted my shawl to be neck down, but have the lace rows. Also I wanted to have a zen knitting or process knitting shawlette. I didn’t want to have to think much while I worked. I had enough to think through while I worked with many issues coming up in my life. (Good things, by the way.)
After several iterations at working through this, I can now present – the Simple Garter Lacy Shawlette. It’s a variant of the Simple Yet Effective Shawl by Laura Chau. And this variant has her blessing.
The variations are
- I used a lace row.
- It’s only knitted in garter stitch. (Because I don’t like purling.)
- It’s meant to use a skein of sock yarn.
- I add in stitch markers to it’s really a brainless knit, even with the lace row.
- I don’t specify the bind off. I don’t see that a purl bind off would be of benefit here.
This pattern can be varied in size (depending on the amount of yarn you have) and in needle size. I used a single skein of sock yarn (Three Irish Girls Adorn Sock – 30 yards) for mine and size 6 needles). (Model is my youngest in elementary school. This is a good sized shawl for her.)
Starting Section
Cast on 5 stitches
(Right Side) K1, (place marker to mark right side) yo, k1, yo (place marker), k1(<- your center stitch) (place marker), yo, k1, yo, k1
Go to step 2 of the pattern below.
Pattern Section Notes
If you need to see an overall idea of how the pattern works. I divide up the yarn over groups into 5 sections:
- the first yo that is an increase on every odd pattern row
- the yo + K2tog (repeat) that make the lace pattern up to the center on the lace rows
- The center yo, k1 yo for the lace line up the center
- the yo, then k2tog + yo (repeat) that make the lace pattern after the center on the lace rows
- the last yo that is an increase on every odd pattern row
So I grouped them in parenthesis for easy identification.
You’ll recognize increase rows because of the stitch marker that is just past the first stitch on your needle.
The Pattern Rows
- (Lace + increase row, RS) (K1, move marker, yo, k1), (yo, k2tog – repeat to marker), (yo, (move marker) K1, (move marker) yo), (k2tog, yo – repeat until you get to the last 2 stitches), (K1, yo, k1)
- (WS) Knit across
- (RS, Increase row) (K1, move marker, yo, k1) , knit to marker, (yo, (move marker) K1, (move marker) yo), knit to last 2 stitches, (k1, yo, k1)
(WS) Knit across
Repeat rows #3 and #4 – three more times. (for a total of 10 rows in the pattern).
Bind off as you see fit when you find there won’t be enough yarn for another 10 row pattern.
Shy Red Fox 