The inspiration for the They/Them Shawl came when I learned about an instance of everyday bigotry. When someone told a friend, who is non-binary, that they should not wear a shawl because shawls are a woman’s accessory, those few small-minded words hurt.

As a response, this pattern loudly proclaims that each person has the right to their own unique gender expression; to be recognized, and to be respected. The They/Them shawl is for everyone of any pronoun or gender expression, and invites you to live as yourself fully and without shame, with whatever clothing, accessories, and pronouns feel right for you.

The They/Them shawl is an asymmetrical boomerang shawl with stripes, slipped stitches, eyelets, fringe, and plenty of movement. Using five colors in a fingering weight yarn and creating a boomerang shape, this shawl is more than just a fun piece to create. It is a statement that fiber arts can welcome everyone with a shared love of color, texture, and pattern.

The finished shawl dimensions are approximately 23” deep with a 7’ wingspan. For a smaller shawl, you can omit 2 or 3 repeats of the narrow stripes. There are no tails to weave in on this project. Leave 6 inch ends when changing colors. These will be the beginning of the fringe side of the shawl.

The pattern calls for 5 skeins of yarn, approximately 200 yards in each color, making this shawl a great stash-buster.

Supplies:
50 grams (225 yards) each of 5 colors in a fingering weight yarn. Shown in Tumalo Fibers Ghost Town Fingering. Colorways pictured are Goldenrod, Earthenware, Lone Pine, Azure, & Wild Horses.

US6 (4mm) 32” cable.

Crochet hook for making fringe.