One of the challenges of working with a precious handspun yarn is fi guring out how to maximize every inch of yardage. I love shawl patterns that allow you to knit until you run out of yarn but also ensure that the most important functional elements are all taken care of. Top-down shawls, half-pi shawls, or side-to-side asymmetrical shawls are shaped to eff ectively use up yardage while ensuring that your bases are covered. Another option is this bottom-up crescent shawl design.

Cast on the number of stitches necessary to produce the wingspan you desire, work the easy scalloped lace border, and f nish by working a garter-stitch, short-row-shaped body. If you are close to running out of yarn, you can always “speed up” the short-rows by knitting more stitches before turning your work.

FINISHED SIZE
About 60” (152.5 cm) wide and 10¼“ (26 cm) long down center back.

YARN
Sportweight (#2 Fine).
Shown here: Handspun yarn from SweetGeorgia BFL+Silk fiber (75% Blue-faced Leicester, 25% tussah silk; about 82 yd 75 m/1 oz 28.3 g): Modern Mandarin, 318 yd (291 m) or about 3.88 oz (110 g).