Inspired by V.E. Schwab’s Shades of Magic fantasy series, in which London’s color is the key for humanity’s relationship to magic (Red for harmony, Grey for death, White for despotic control, and Black for destruction), the Shades of Magic Shawl is designed in homage to the main character’s coat of many sides which matches the version of London he portals himself to.

Constructed in two halves of a square diamond shape that is worked from tip to tip, each half of Shades of Magic echoes the other. Fluidity of movement between locations and identities, transportability between environments, with a rhythmic flow of stitches designed to bring comforting familiarity despite the novel double-sided construction that works up like garter stitch (but is anything but ordinary), Shades of Magic both transforms the knitting experience and remains a wearable, versatile garment essential to any knitters’ travels…be they worldly or between the pages of a book.

Shades of Magic is a double-knit shawl, using a novel technique that knits both sides simultaneously while requiring no purling or toggling of yarn, to give it the intuitive rhythm of working garter stitch, and at the same time producing a shawl that is reverse-stockinette on the right side and stockinette on the wrong side. Reversible and with numerous ways to wear it - as a square, as a diamond, as a triangle with one color on the front or back, or as a triangle with one color on one half and the second on the other - Shades of Magic is modular, versatile, and adaptable for every knitter adding a bit of magic to their handmade wardrobe.

Materials

Yarn
400 grams (approximately 1600 yds) fingering weight yarn, suggested in 2 skeins of 2 different colors, but can use 4 skeins of 4 different colors, mini skeins, etc

Yarn used in photos:
Coast to Coast Yarn Company - Twist Sock - fingering weight 100% superwash merino 2-ply (400 yds/100g)
Color 1: Crumb Donuts & Cologne
Color 2: Mildred & Gwendolyn

Needles
strong textUS 6 (4.0mm) 40” circular needles

Notions
1 tapestry needle
2 removable stitch markers to mark edge stitches (optional)
1 fun progress keeper or stitch marker to mark RS of work (optional)

Gauge & Notes
22 sts & 34 rows = 4” in pattern

Shawl is worked flat to create 2 layers of material simultaneously. Similar to double-knitting in thickness and warmth, the Darker Shade of Magic Shawl requires no knowledge of double-knitting techniques and no fussiness of juggling 2 colors at once to create this double-thick fabric that is reversible at the wave of a hand (like magic!), using only knit stitches in a novel technique! Pattern features knit stitches, slip stitches, and yarn overs. Pattern is infinitely modify-able to be as large or small as you like it. Sample is shown using 4 skeins (2 each of the colors listed above), but could be knit with 4 fingering weight skeins in your stash as an excellent way to use up those precious skeins, multiple minis, or any combination of leftovers in your stash! The Darker Shade of Magic Shawl is designed to be as versatile and changeable as Kell’s coat, which transports him between Red, White, Black, and Grey London, so have fun!