Brachyura is the infraorder to which crabs belong. This shawl contains many symbolic references to the zodiac sign “Cancer the Crab”. The glyph features prominantly on the lace border, which also includes a wave edging symbolic of water, the element to which this sign belongs, and a fax-cable rememiscent of crab tracks or a column of marching soldier crabs. The outer lace border can also be likened to the crabs hard ornamented shell, protecting its soft centre.

Construction
This shawl starts by first knitting the lace panel in the main color. After knitting a narrow garter band stitches are picked up along the side and the repeating lace motif is knit. A matching garter band is the knit on to the other end of the lace panel. The contrasting yarn is used to pickup stitches from the long straight edge of the lace panel. A combination of short rows and decreases shape the garter stitch shawl body.

This design is the July 2013 release from The Unique Sheep’s Zodiac Shawl Club. After 6 months the pattern will become available to the general public

Size (after blocking):
width: 43 cm (17 inches) at the widest point
26 cm (10 1/2 inches) at the ends
length: 127 cm (50 inches)

Gauge (after blocking):
garter stitch (on “large” needle): 20 st x 33 rows (10cm/4”)
lace edge pattern (on “small” needle): 19 st x 34 rows (10cm/4”)

Materials needed:
The Unique Sheep, Luxe (25% Tussah Silk, 75% Superwash Merino), 100g/400yd
Main color for lace edge 100g (400yds)
Contrast color for shawl body 50g (200yds)
3.25 mm knitting needle(s) -can be straight or circular depending on the knitters preference
3.5 mm (size 4 US) 80 cm (32”) circular knitting needle
2 stitch markers
2x stitch holder or safetly pin
Scissors
Blocking wires
T-pins