There’s rules for making a boomerang shawl. You increase like so and decrease like that and then, the rules say, you’ll get the shawl you want. But when I attempted to follow the rules, I created an absolute disaster. I tried to figure out where I’d gone wrong and to follow the rules more precisely, and nothing fixed the issue. I tweaked a hundred different details and only managed to create an endless array of really bad shawls.

After much frustration and frogging, I broke up with the rules. I ignored them entirely and did what felt right to me - and the shawl worked out exactly as I wanted.

Flout the rules with the Break Free Shawl. Ignore the restrictions and the people telling you how things should be, break free and create a masterpiece that’s true to you.

Sample
Sample uses Asylum Fibers Daft, 197yds/90g in Unafraid (color A), 197yds/90g of Scores (color B), 153yds/70g of Flowing Freely (color C)
Thanks to Asylum Fibers for providing the yarn for the sample!

Yarn, Yardage, and Colors
The pattern as stated calls for 219yds/100g of color A, 219yds/100g of color B, and 165yds/75g of color C, however the stripes can easily be customized to work with any number of colors at any yardages. Colors A and B can work in any color style, from super variegated to solid. Color C is used for the lace section and while it can also be worked up in any color, the lace will be somewhat obscured with a highly variegated colorway.

The sample uses a DK, though the yarn works up closer to a worsted than a DK, and the pattern works perfectly in anything from a laceweight to a bulky. You can add/remove rows to make it to size or use the yarn weight to impact sizing.

There are notes within the pattern for percentages of total yarn weight so however you customize, you can be sure you’ll have enough to finish the shawl. As always, I recommend erring on the side of caution - better to have 10g leftover than to lose at yarn chicken!

Size
When gauge is met, 603yds/275g of DK weight yarn will net a shawl that has a wingspan of 72”/183cm and measures 22”/56cm down the back. Size can be customized by working extra/fewer rows in the first half of the shawl section. The pattern includes notes for estimating the final wingspan of the shawl, so if you’re adding/removing rows you can make sure you’ll get a wingspan you’re happy with.

Skills Required
ch, dc, dc2tog, dc3tog, hdc2tog, tr. The increases and decreases (especially in the lace section) make this an intermediate pattern, best suited for someone who’s comfortable working decreases.

Construction
The shawl is worked side to side. It starts at the skinny end and gradually increases to the center. There are notes for the percentage of yardage and wingspan that should be met at the center point. The second half of the shawl has both decreases and increases to achieve the desired shape.

Copyright
This pattern and any associated images, schematics, and charts are copyright Rachy Newin Designs and may not be distributed in part or in whole without express written permission. Handmade objects created from this pattern are not subject to copyright and you can do as you please with your finished object.

Printing
The pattern includes large photos on the first page and the last five pages, so print accordingly.

Screen Reader Accessibility
The main pattern pdf is designed to be screen reader accessible. The text is all in one column and headers are formatted according to the style sheet. The pattern is written out completely and the images have descriptive alt text.

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