Like a bird on the wire
Like a drunk in a midnight choir
I have tried in my way to be free

-- Bird On the Wire lyrics and music by Leonard Cohen

To Be Free is 2/3rds of a circle, using a pin-hole cast on and crescent shaping at the neckline, then shifting to pi shawl shaping to achieve it’s semi-circular finish. Two Latvian braids accent the top of the shawl, using either a contrasting remnant from a different skein or a length of yarn wound from the opposite end of the skein if a gradient yarn is used. The designer’s sample shown uses the gradient option.

Materials Needed:
- @500 yards of heavy lace weight yarn dyed as a gradient, or @485 yards of heavy lace weight yarn plus an @15 yards remnant of contrasting yarn of the same weight
- 3.5mm (US 4) needles or size of needles needed to make gauge
- 3.75mm (US 5) needles or one size larger needle than previous for Latvian braids
- 24 to 26 stitch markers in two or more colours
- blunt needle for weaving ends (optional)

Gauge: 26 sts x 36 rows in stocking stitch unblocked
Note that I do not consider gauge essential for shawls. Rather, I recommend getting a fabric you like and going from there. However, if you have a limited amount of yarn then matching the pattern gauge is important.
Gauge is given for the unblocked fabric because the rate of blocking varies between people.

Pattern Instruction Format:
The pattern is entirely written; you do not need to refer to the charts to work this pattern.
The pattern is entirely charted; you do not need to refer to the written instructions to work this pattern.