Unfree is an asymmetric triangle shawl, worked from the left tip to the right side. It uses a single skein of fingering weight yarn but can be easily extended to include additional skeins to create a larger shawl.

The design was inspired by a quote from Audre Lorde, a black civil rights activist and poet who wrote, “I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.’’ The chain-like cable pattern along one edge of the shawl is meant to remind us that none of us can be free if we do not ensure our activism is inclusive and intersectional. We must be sure we are listening to and elevating black, queer, disabled, and poor and working class voices and not centering on white feminism. We must strive to fight against racism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, classism, and other attempts to divide us in our fight for rights and equity. 100% of the proceeds of the sale of this pattern will be donated to social justice organizations such as the Transgender Law Center and Race Forward. Because of this, this pattern is not eligible for sales or coupons.

Required skills: Knit stitch, purl stitch, cables, increases

Materials
Yarn: 450 yards of fingering weight yarn, shown here in Lady Dye Yarns 2-ply in the colorway “Electric Mouse” (462 yards/100 grams)

Needles: US size 3, or size needed to obtain gauge

Notions: Yarn needle, two cable needles, stitch marker

Gauge: 24 stitches and 39 rows = 4’’/10cm in stockinette stitch after blocking

Upon purchase, you will receive two copies of the pattern -- a standard version and a version optimized for screen readers and low-vision knitters

The low vision version includes size 24 font and has no abbreviations