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Necesse Shawl is a long crescent-shape shawl that can also be worn wrapped around the neck like a scarf. It is a simple shawl with increases on both sides of the stockinette body that culminates in a pretty lace edge. Hayley designed this shawl for a friend who was asked to teach a Lace Shawl Knitting class at her local yarn shop. Necesse – “essential” in Latin – is created for those who have mastered knitting fundamentals and want to venture into lace shawls including chart reading. It’s also perfect for experienced lace knitters who are needing a break from complicated patterns, looking for a portable/travel project, and/or interested in a quick gift/knit.

Necesse can be knitted in three sizes with the smallest using approximately one skein 437y/400m of fingering-weight yarn (smaller needle size and/or a stretchy instead of picot bindoff may be necessary depending on your knitting tension) and the largest using approximately 600y/550m. It may also be knitted in heavy-lace yarn for a more open look or sport/DK weight for a cozier shawl. See test knit data on on pattern for more information (also shown in bottom picture). Please compare your chart-by-chart usage to the test knitters to ensure you have enough yarn if only one skein of fingering weight is being used.

Skill Level
Advanced Beginners. Charts only. Pattern does not include row-by-row written instruction except for the stockinette section. This is the perfect opportunity for those who are interested in learning chart reading with its fairly simple – and shorter – lace charts!

Yarns
Heavy lace, fingering, sport, or DK-weight yarns are all suitable, in solid, semi solid, variegated, or gradient. Finished dimensions may be adjusted by using different yarn weight and needle size, as well as changing the size – small, medium, or large – of the stockinette-stitch body of the shawl as shown. Yardage required is dependent on size, yarn weight, and needle size. Please see next page for all the test knit data regarding yarn information and usage.

As with most long crescent-shape shawl with stockinette-stitch body, there is usually a slight bump in the middle that disappears with blocking. Thus a base containing fiber content (e.g., silk, linen, bamboo) that allows aggressive blocking while retaining the blocked shape (as opposed to pure wool that springs back when unpinned) is recommended.

To best showcase the various stitch patterns of the design, self-striping or wildly variegated yarn with vast tonal differences is NOT recommended.

Gauge
Gauge isn’t important but will determine the final size of the shawl.

Needles
Sample shawl is knitted on US4 / 3.5mm – beginning of the shawl and picot bind off, US5 / 3.75mm – rows 3 to 29, and US6 / 4.0mm needles. Go up or down needle size depending on the weight of your yarn and the tension of your knitting. Please note that this will affect yardage requirement.

Tools
Circular needles in size US4 / 3.5mm, US5 / 3.75mm, and US6 / 4.0mm depending on your gauge, stitch markers, blunt tapestry needle, crochet hook or other tool if you are adding beads, T-pins, and blocking wire(s) and mat (optional).

Beads
Optional size 6 rounds or size 5 triangular seed beads – 302.

This pattern wouldn’t have been possible without the help and support of my wonderful test knitters: Trang from Australia, Monika from Austria, Glenys from New Zealand, Lynne from Canada, and Anne, Jennifer, Karen, Kathy, and Marcy from the U.S.