Matilda

By Kate Blackburn

I love the versatility of triangular shawls knitted from the top down. They can be made in almost any weight of yarn and in any size. This one is knit in cashmere, making it warm yet lightweight and easy to stow away in a bag until needed. Perfect for the variable weather of a British springtime!

Photographs: Diane Mulholland

Size
Sizes: One size (adjustable). Shawl shown measures 200cm/80inches by 95cm/38inches

Requirements
Yarn: 100g Colourmart 3/28NM (33wpi) Heavy Laceweight Cashmere (100% cashmere, 1,550m/150g) in colour: Vatican
Needles: 3.75mm/5US circular needle, 60cm/24inches long, or size needed to obtain correct tension
Notions: crochet hook, waste yarn

Tension
24sts and 32 rows = 10cm/4inches in stocking stitch

Pattern Notes
The shawl is worked from the centre of the top edge downwards to the edging, making the size completely adjustable.

Each chart row is repeated twice for each row worked of the shawl, with each repeat being divided by a centre knit stitch.

Charts show right-side of work only. All wrong side rows are k3, purl to last 3 sts, k3.

Provisional crochet cast on: using waste yarn and crochet hook, make a chain of 6. Using knitting needles and main yarn, pick up and knit sts in back loops of crochet chain.

Lace cast off: k2, return sts to left-hand needle, ssk, *k1, return sts to left-hand needle, ssk, repeat from * to end.

Abbreviations
The Inside Loop’s list of standard abbreviations can be found here.

Instructions
Using provisional crochet cast on, cast on 3 sts. Knit 6 rows.
Next row: k3, turn work and pick up and knit 1 st in each of the 3 ridges along the side edge. Undo crochet cast on, placing these 3 sts onto left hand needle and then knit them. 9 sts in total.

Begin shawl on row 1 of Chart 1 as follows: k3 (border sts), work all of row 1 of chart, k1 (centre st), work all of row 1 of chart, k3 (border sts).
Row 2: k3, p to last 3 sts, k3
Row 3: k3, work all of row 3 of chart, k1 (centre st), work all of row 3 of chart, k3
Row 4: k3, p to last 3 sts, k3

Note: charts will appear much larger in printable version

Continue as set until row 32 of Chart 1 has been completed and then move on to Chart 2.

Work Chart 2 10 times, or until shawl measures required size (less edging), making sure that you end after a complete repeat has been worked. With each repeat of the chart, you will work an additional 18 st repeat each side of the centre st, as shaded on the chart.

When shawl is desired size, work Rows 1 to 12 of Chart 3, repeating shaded stitches as before.

Finishing
Cast off shawl using lace cast off. Soak in lukewarm soapy water, rinse and blot gently. Block to required measurements on a flat surface, pinning the edging out to form points. Unpin when dry and wear!

About the Designer
Kate Blackburn is currently working through her enormous stash of laceweight yarn. Read about her attempts on her blog, Confessions of a Graveyard Gypsy.

Contact Kate