This design was inspired by the beautiful, watery “Soft Rains of April” colourway from KEENAN HAND DYED YARN, and a request for a pattern that would not be too intimidating for first-time lace knitters. The first half of this vortex-shaped (or boomerang) shawl is knit in garter ridges—no lace at all! The ripple stitch pattern continues with garter ridges, has lace patterning only on every fourth row, and is not very difficult. If desired, the lace pattern could be started immediately after the five-row garter border, and knit for the entirety of the shawl. If that is what you choose to do, the knitting will begin with a complete pattern repeat—no fussing around with partial pattern repeats in set-up rows. I don’t think I can make lace-knitting any more beginner friendly! Of course, more advanced knitters will enjoy the making too. And do take a look at https://keenanyarn.com/ ; there are many more beautiful watery shades to consider, like “Riding the Crest” and “The Great Lakes,” or go in a completely direction with “West of the Moon.”

This is a good pattern for a first time lace knitter. The skills you will need to know--or learn--to complete the project are:

• cast on and bind off (instructions for a lace bind-off are included);
• knit and purl;
• yo increase;
• kyok double increase;
• k2tog decrease;
• ssk decrease;
• cdd double decrease.