Delphia is a top-down, crescent-shaped shawl worked in two colors. The shawl begins with a swath of squishy garter stitch. After a while, little stockinette stripes begin peeking through the garter, providing effortless texture and visual contrast. Wide bands of garter alternate with thinner stripes, which flow into a beautiful lace border formed by dramatic double yarn overs. I was inspired by the delightful way that Victorian women’s fashion combined bold stripes with feminine design details such as lace and ruffles, and so I tried to capture that feel with Delphia.

I designed Delphia as both a “first lace shawl” pattern as well as one that is perfect for more experienced knitters who are looking for a TV or social knit, or as a quick gift or stash buster.

As a teaching pattern, the newer knitter will learn how to:

• Knit a crescent shawl shaped with make 1 increases
• Begin a shawl with a garter tab
• Work several different types of increases
• Knit 2-row stripes
• Cut vs. carry the yarn when working with two colors
• Work a neat edge when carrying the yarn
• Make a pretty picot bind off
• Block a lace shawl

When selecting yarn for Delphia, you’ll have lots of options. Note that Color A uses about 360-395 yards (329-297 M) and Color B uses about 290-325 yards (265-297 m). On the sample shawls pictured, the lace border (as well as the body contrast stripe and picot bind off) is worked with Color B. Since variegated yarns show off garter stitch quite nicely, you could use one for Color A, which is used for the body and border striping. The Color B lace border is able to take a more variegated yarn than would usually be recommended for lace patterns, since the large double yarn over holes will often break up the color pooling that may occur with some variegated yarns. If you do decide to go more variegated with one of the colors, I recommend using a complimentary solid or subdued tonal for the other color in order to pop out the design elements. Of course, solid or tonal hand-dyed yarns will work well for both colors.

There are multiple ways to easily increase the size, such as working more rows of garter stitch in the solid body section or making the lace border wider; full instructions are provided, including how to calculate stitch counts for any size. And while dimensions and yardage are provided for fingering weight, Delphia may be worked in any weight you choose. All instructions are written only.

YARDAGE: The sample with the dark variegated body and deep pink border was knitted with Hedgehog Fibers Twist Sock; I used 355 yards (325 m) of Vengeance/Color A and 295 yards (270 m) of Plump/Color B for a total yardage of 650 yards (595 m). The dark purple/variegated peachy pink sample was knitted with Neighborhood Fiber Co. Studio Sock; I used 360 yards (329 m) of Truxton Circle/Color A and 310 yards (284 m) of Basquiat/Color B for a total yardage of 670 yards (613 m).

The blue/brown sample was knitted with both Napoleon Sock from Kim Dyes Yarn (Color A in the Cowboy colorway) and Ethereal from Hazel Knits (Color B in the Sandalwood colorway) and used around 650 yards (594 m), about 350 yards (320 m) of A and 300 yards (274 m) of B.

SIZE: All sample shawls measure about 78 x 20” (198 x 51 cm). Note that the first measurements is the wingspan measured with that edge straightened out.