This brand new year brings an anniversary - it has been an unbelievable ten years since I’ve developed the short row method of shaping shawls. In celebration of the first publication of my crescents, I am thrilled to share with you Hiraeth (hiraeth is a Welsh concept of longing for home) - a new design that goes back to the beginning and combines all of the things I love about shawl knitting: lace, beads, and cables.
It’s like coming home…

Presented in eight weekly clues (beginning January 11, 2020), this mystery shawl is my classic bottom-up short row crescent with three size options, Large, Medium, and Small, all of which can be customized even further.

The pattern is charted and includes full row-by-row instructions as well.

The short rows are worked with simple decreases, without the need for any fiddly wraps.

The lace pattern uses basic lace stitches combined with just a few cables and bits of interesting texture, all worked on the right side only, while the wrong side rows are simply purled.

There are beads added throughout the lace and three different beading options are charted, but the project will work just as well without any beads.

All sizes of the shawl can be worked in lace or fingering, as well as sport, DK, and worsted weight yarns, (heavier yarns may require extra yardage and larger needles). Solid, tonal, and gradient yarns will work with this project beautifully.

Finished Measurements:
Large: 35” / 89 cm (center depth) x 71” / 180.5 cm (wingspan)
Medium: 25” / 63.5 cm (center depth) x 47” / 119.5 cm (wingspan)
Small: 15.5” / 39.5 cm (center depth) x 39” / 99 cm (wingspan)
Note: Measurements taken after blocking.

Yarn (gradient, solid, or tonal colors):
Large: Any lace or fingering weight yarn, approx 1375 - 1425 yards total; the Large sample was completed with Brooklyn Tweed Loft (100% American Wool; 275 yards / 251.5 m / 50 grams); color: Thistle
Medium: Any lace or fingering weight yarn, approx 600 - 650 yards; the Medium sample was completed with Madelinetosh 80/10/10 Fingering (80% Merino Wool, 10% Cashmere, 10% Nylon; 405 yards / 307 m / 100 grams); color: Tart
Small: Any lace or fingering weight yarn, approx 390 - 440 yards; the Small sample was completed with Knit Picks Shadow (100% Merino Wool; 440 yards / 402.5 m / 50 grams); color: Grasshopper Kettle-Dyed

Needles:
Large: US 10 / 6.00 mm, US 9 / 5.50 mm, US 7 / 4.50 mm, and US 6 / 4.00 mm circular needle, 32” or longer
Medium: US 9 / 5.50 mm, US 7 / 4.50 mm and US 6 / 4.00 mm circular needle, 32” or longer
Small: US 8 / 5.00 mm, US 7 / 4.50 mm and US 6 / 4.00 mm circular needle, 32” or longer

Notions:
Crochet hook size 0.75mm (or smaller as needed to fit through holes of beads, optional)
Cable needle
Stitch markers
Yarn needle
Blocking pins

Beads (optional):
lots of beads / fewer beads / just edges
Large 2065 / 756 / 168
Medium 1093 / 442 / 136
Small 627 / 260 / 104
Note: These are exact numbers, purchasing a few extra beads is recommended.
Bead size depends on the weight of your yarn. Because of the relatively large number of beads in the “lots of beads” option, the large or medium lace weight shawl would probably work best with 8/0 3.00mm beads to avoid straining the yarn too much, but the same shawl worked in fingering or sport weight could easily support 6/0 4.00mm beads.

Hiraeth Mystery Knit-A-Long in the Susanna IC group.

Hiraeth MKAL is my fourteenth Mystery KAL shawl (previous MKALs include Jadis, Mina, Iridea, Calendula, Meristem, and Diantha).

Project Tag:
HiraethMKAL2020

Questions or comments about my designs?
Interested in KALs & MKALs?
Join Susanna IC group on Ravelry:
http://www.ravelry.com/groups/susanna-ic