Thankful

Thankful is worked in two stages. You make the main body from one side tip to the other, back and forth in a simple lace field, growing the shawl on the diagonal as you go. A marker keeps your place, and the two-row repeat becomes second nature quickly, so most of the shawl is easy, steady rows.

The second stage is where it earns its flair. Once the body is done, you work a shell edging along the shaped edges, and at the point it opens into a special increase that fans the border out into wings. Those wings add real width and movement, so the finished shawl reads far more dramatic than the quiet body would suggest. Working the edging in a second color sets it off cleanly against the field.

It comes out generous. Blocked, the body runs 60 inches wide and 23 inches deep at the longest point, and the winged edging adds another 10 inches across the span. That is a proper shawl, enough to wrap fully around the shoulders with the shell border framing the whole thing. This one comes from a love of the fall and winter holidays, and it wears the season without being a costume.

Yarn: 

Fingering weight yarn in two colors.

The sample uses Nanette Wake Studio Fingering Weight Yarn (85% superwash merino, 15% nylon, 3.5 oz / 100g = 437 yards / 400m) in the colors (A) Copper Penny and (B) Maron.

Hook: 

US size E/4 (3.5 mm), or the size needed for gauge. Make sure you take the time to check it before you start.

Notions: 

Stitch marker and a tapestry needle.

Gauge: 

17 dc and 8 dc rows = 4 inches / 10 cm, in pattern for the main body. Check your gauge before you begin. Because you work the body side to side, your gauge sets the depth of the shawl and how far your yarn will take you.

Finished Size: 

Blocked, the body is 60 inches / 152 cm wide and 23 inches / 58 cm deep at the longest point, and the wings of the edging add another 10 inches / 25 cm to the wingspan. Blocking opens the lace and the shell wings and sets the shape, so plan for it.