Kelp Garden Shawl by Meaghan Schmaltz

Kelp Garden Shawl

Knitting
February 2018
DK (11 wpi) ?
12 stitches and 17 rows = 4 inches
in even 2-color brioche worked flat, taken after blocking
US 8 - 5.0 mm
500 - 560 yards (457 - 512 m)
Small (Large): 58 (64)” / 147 (163) cm wingspan x 20 (23)” / 51 (58) cm deep
English
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The Story
This fully reversible brioche shawl takes me back to my first trip kayaking o the shores of La Jolla, California: one side of this shawl makes me think of the kelp with it’s bulbs, some of which would wash up on the shore; and the reverse side is reminiscent of the path of bubbles that would rise to the surface as I moved my paddle through the water.

Materials

  • Yarn Love Amy March DK (DK weight; 100% superwash merino; 280 yds/ 256 m per 4 oz/113g), 1 skein each: Color A: Black Coffee (Moonrise Beach); Color B: Beneath the Waves (20,000 Leagues)
  • US 8 (5 mm) 32” circular needle (or preferred length)
  • Row Counter (optional)
  • Tapestry needle
  • Sharp scissors (for tassel-making, size Small only)

Finished Dimensions
58 (64)” / 147 (163) cm wingspan x 20 (23)” / 51 (58) cm deep

Project Gauge
12 sts and 17 rows = 4” / 10 cm in even 2-color brioche worked flat, taken after blocking

Notes

  • This shawl is constructed in a triangular shape and worked flat, from the center-top. Written and charted instructions are provided for the entirety of the shawl following the Setup Rows.
  • Due to this shawl being designed to use up the entirety of each skein of yarn, if you do not have additional skeins with which to swatch, you can begin your project and take a pre-blocked gauge on the even 2-color brioche section at the beginning of the shawl to be sure you’re on track. If not, I recommend changing needle size to match gauge and re-starting the project. The pre-blocked gauge is: 17.5 sts & 24 rows = 4” / 10 cm in even 2-color brioche worked flat.
  • This shawl is designed to be fully reversible! The brioche lace is worked on what would traditionally be considered the wrong side of the shawl. In so doing, shaping on the RS and WS of the work creates a unique design on each side of the shawl - a 2 for 1 shawl!
  • In 2-color brioche, worked flat, each row is worked 2 times before turning the work to the opposite side. When you complete an “a” row, instead of turning your work, you will SLIDE the sts back to the beginning of the needle and work a “b” row. Only after completing a “b” row will you TURN your work and knit the other side of the project.
  • Although gauge is not critical for this project, a looser gauge than noted will result in the use of more yardage.
  • The instructions provided are for two sizes of shawl - the smaller of which is designed to have tassels attached to the 3 points. Instructions are provided for the smallest size first, and the larger size in parenthesis. If only one set of instructions is provided, it applies to both sizes of shawl.
  • The brioche lace used in this shawl is courtesy of Nancy Marchant in her resource book: Knitting Fresh Brioche.