Pattern Description from A Gathering of Lace: “The circle shawl begins in the center and maintains a steady 7- (or 8-) point swirling increase throughout. Knitting the first few rnds with 6-8 sts on three of four dpn can be challenging. I recommend bamboo or wooden dpn as they have more surface friction than aluminum, enamel, or nickel, and the wool will cling to them in a more secure and comforting fashion. To determine when you have reached your wanted length, snag a passer-by to measure the radius as you grab the beginning (center) of the shawl in one hand, your working needle in the other and stretch the knitting fiercely. The more loosely you knit, the more the shawl will stretch when blocked. During your very first lace shawl, you may be discouraged as you observe the shriveled knitting hanging from your needle. Persevere. you will be rewarded as you take scores of T-pins, flop the freshly washed, damp shawl down onto the rug and metamorphose that thing into a resplendent butterfly by pinning out each scallop of your chosen lace border. it will dry in a matter of hours.”

Skill Level: Intermediate

Finished Measurements: 80” in diameter for the cream version with 7 spokes and a deep border; 72” in diameter for the teal blue version with 8 spokes and a shallower edging. Use finer needles for a smaller, less lacy shawl.

Yarn: Schoolhouse Press Laceweight Icelandic (1¾ oz/50g; 250yds/228m; wool) 6 balls of Teal #9809 or 7 balls of Cream #0851

Needles: Size 10 (6mm) needles in double-pointed (dpn) and circular, 16” and 24”(40, and 60 cm) long, or size to obtain gauge

Extras:

• 7 (8) yarn loop markers, 6 (7) of one color and one of a contrasting color to mark the beginning of the rnd
• Waste yarn
• Rust-proof T-pins

Blocked Gauge: 14 sts to 4”/10cm in Spiral pat using size 10 (6mm) needles

Notes:

1. The shawl is knit circularly from the center out. Begin with dpn and change to the 16” circular needle when possible; end with the 24” needle.
2. Instructions are for a 7-point inc, with an optional 8-point inc in parentheses.
3. As you are establishing your lace reps, tie a loop marker around the needle between each rep. That way you can check your accuracy in increments each rnd and never have to rip back more than one rep.
4. Only odd-numbered rnds are charted. All even rnds are knit, working (k1-p1) into each double yo from the rnd before.
5. See Techniques, p. 162, for circular beginnings, double yo, invisible cast-on, and garter st grafting.