When I went to NY in January for Lion Brand’s #LBBloggerBash, I was gifted two skeins of this beautiful silk yarn in vibrant hues of purple, fuschia and blue. I wasn’t sure what to do with just 2 small skeins of yarn, but it turned into a long and lightweight shawl, perfect for weddings, summer evenings, or summer evening weddings! Here’s the story of my New Paths Shawl.
So here I was, with 2 skeins of Lion Brand LB Collection Silk, and I didn’t want them to just sit and linger in my stash as so many yarns do. I had finished a major project at work, and was contemplating taking a big leap off a cliff to my next life adventure. I wanted to gift a friend with something made from these little 50g skeins of yarn, but I needed a project that didn’t require too much math, nor a particular gauge, and had to be open-ended enough to take me as far as the yarn could take me. I figured I’d try an asymmetrical shawl, since in essence, this type of shawl is just row after row after row until you get to the size you want, or the yarn runs out, whichever comes first!
I used this asymmetrical shawl recipe from Joanne Thread Head as the basis for my shawl. It explained the basic concept of an asymmetrical build, which is really quite simple. For the bottom edge of the shelf, increase a stitch on every row. For the top edge of the shawl, alternate between decreasing by a stitch, and keeping the same number of stitches. If you’re feeling math-y, you can probably graph it out; I’m sure it translates well to x’s and y’s!
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I like the repetition and math and simplicity of this project. Simply put, knit in garter stitch following the basic 2 row pattern for the entire first skein of yarn. Then, somewhere towards the beginning of the second skein, add in a swath of eyelet lace, and then work in garter stitch until you are out of yarn. That’s it. (Although, I did fight with the eyelet lace part for a few hours, as I’m still learning when it comes to frogging knit stitches and I couldn’t figure out how to work back my lace correctly. I swear, there were a few moments of panic when I thought I’d lose the whole thing.) You can work this shawl as I’ve just explained, and let the yarn tell you when to switch to eyelet and back, or follow the pattern I’ve provided below for more specific instructions.
This shawl, with its swath of lace in the middle, like a gravel path through a field, represents the new path that I’m taking in my career. The friend who received this shawl is also starting on a new path, and we will walk our paths together. Like this pattern, I don’t know where the path will lead, but I’m confident it’ll be somewhere beautiful: full of life, color, and friendships.
Supplies
- 2Â skeins of Lion Brand LB Collection Silk
- 6.0mm circular needles*
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
Abbreviations
(Abbreviations from the Craft Yarn Council)
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- kfb – knit 1 into front and back of a stitch; single knit increase
- k2togtbl – knit 2 stitches together through back loop; single right-leaning decrease
- ktbl – knit through back loop
- yo – yarn over
- k2tog – knit 2 stitches together; single right-leaning decrease
Pattern Notes
- Gauge: 15 sts and 30 rows in 4 inches.
- Scarf is approximately 59 inches from corner to corner.
- Please note you’ll need a loose bind-off at the end. You can also switch to larger needles to get a looser bind-off.
New Paths Shawl Instructions
Row 1: Cast on 5 sts.
GARTER
Row 2: Kfb, knit across until last 2 sts, k2togtbl
Row 3: Ktbl, knit across until last st, kfb
Repeat Row 2-3, 87 more times.
LACE
Row 178: Kfb, knit across until last 2 sts, k2togtbl.
Row 179: Ktbl, [yo, k2tog] until last 2 sts. K1, kfb.
Row 180: Kfb, knit across until last 2 sts, k2togtbl.
Row 181: ktbl, [yo, k2tog] until last st, kfb.
Repeat Rows 178-181, 3 more times.
Repeat Rows 178-180, once more.
GARTER
Repeat Rows 2-3, 33 times.
Bind off loosely.
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Lovely shawl!!! If only I knew how to knit! You are one talented fiber artist!
Thank you so much for this Beautiful Pattern!! I do have a question. After the Lace potion it states to repeat rows 2- 3 /33 times. Is that total rows or rounds (66 rows)?
Again, thank you!!!
Janet.
Hi Janet,
Yes, it’s a total of 66 rows, or until you feel like stopping 🙂
Hi… I love this pattern…..can you tell me why it goes from row 3 and then jumps to row 178?.?
Judy
[email protected]
Hi, I noticed that this pattern is being offered as a kit with Landscape yarn on the Lionbrand website. I’d like to purchase the kit, but I don’t like any of of the colors offered. Is the pattern the same with the size of needles and yarn used the only exceptions?
its because you have to repeat 2 and 3 rows 87 times
Hi, I love the look of this pattern, but would like to use a different yarn. What weight can you use in its place? Dk? Thank you!
Hi:
I ordered the trailhead shawl kit from lion brand. They sent the correct yarn but the knit pattern (New Paths) instead of the crochet version. Can you help me. I have e-mailed them twice about this problem and have not received any answer.
Thank you.
Do you have a crochet pattern for an asymmetrical shawl like this?
Hi
Could you please tell me the colour or name of the wool you used for this lovely shawl. Could you use a different type if wool.
Thank you
BY repeating rows 2 & 3 is it only a 1 stitch increase, how many stitches should there be after reporting 2 &3 87 times?
Thank you,
Mary
Hi, I bought 4 ply for this pattern but it’s looks much finer than the wool in the pictures for this pattern. Also, confused about needles size as the pattern calls for 6mm but that’s about twice the size for the yarn? Have I miss understood something? hELP!
LOVE this shawl.
Hl, I love knitting this shawl. One question: I finished the lace part and have completed about 15 rows of the garter
stitch. My ends of each side don’t seem to look the same..is that right? Thank you..
Hi again,
I figured it out, and I am doing the pattern correctly. I have now finished it, and am very pleased with the results.
Hi, I found a yarn I love, and I’m making this shawl with it, but I forgot to gauge it out, so I’m just curious, if I just knit until I’m happy with the size until the lace part, as long as I have a multiple of 3, I think I should be ok to continue with the lace pattern and then back to the garter, right? Since in the pattern, by the time you get to the lace part, you should have 93 sts I think. Thanks!
Is this pattern available through Ravelry?
I have lost track of the number of times I have knit rows2 and 3.How many stitches should be on my needles after doing these rows 87 times?
I want to use fingering yarn, and needle size 4 is that okay
Fingering yarn is a little thinner than the yarn I used for this shawl. Using a US Size 4 needle or 4 mm needle (not sure which you meant), would result in a tighter fabric. The thinner yarn and smaller needle would make it a much smaller shawl overall and it could look quite different.
I love this! I am a fairly new knitter. FYI after the lace section ends with the final 178 to 180 direction you must do row 3 again before knitting rows 2 -3 thirty three more times.
Pattern states to repeat rows 2-3 87 times. It comes to 174 by my calculations. Where does row 178 come from? Am I missing something? Perhaps another row repeat?
Thank you (beautiful pattern)
Hi Jean,
Rows 2-3 are repeated 87 MORE times, so the first time you do them is separate from those 87 additional times, really you are doing them a total of 88 times.
If repeating rows 2 and 3 gives you only one increase, you divide 2 into 87 and come out with approximately 43 stitch increases.