This is a rectangular shawl knit in garter stitch (knit every row) from
one long side to the other long side. The cast-on and cast-off edges
should be very loose so that the shawl drapes well. Consider using
a needle two sizes larger for both (or a different technique).
The stitch pattern is based on "Seafoam Pattern" on page 218 in Barbara
Walker's A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns (1998, Schoolhouse Press).
This revision results in a reversible shawl. The pattern repeat is
10+6 stitches, so the shawl can be made about 4 1/3 inches longer or shorter
by adding or subtracting 10 stitches.
Materials:
One 400 yard skein: I used yarn from a local goatherd: Isham
hand-dyed, machine-spun, 50% mohair/ 50% wool blend; but lots of other
yarns will work well, too (19 wpi, about 8 oz)
24 or 30 inch #8 circular needle (to hold all the stitches, although
the knitting is back and forth)
Gauge:
About 3 stitches per inch in unblocked garter stitch (about 2 1/3 st/in
blocked)
Finished size:
About 72 inches by 26 inches
Abbreviations:
sl1 = slip one stitch purlwise with yarn in front
k1 = knit one stitch (or whatever number is indicated)
yo1 = yarn over once (or whatever number is indicated)
Pattern:
Loosely cast on 172 stitches
Knit four ridges (8 rows) of garter stitch, slipping the first stitch
of each row (sl1)
Begin pattern:
Row 1: sl1, k8, *yo1, k1, yo2, k1, yo3, k1, yo2, k1, yo1, k6*,
k3 (repeat the stitches between the asterisks to the end of the row)
Row 2: sl1, knit across all stitches, dropping all yarn overs
Rows 3, 4, 5: sl1, knit across all stitches
Row 6: sl1, k3, repeat from * to * as in row 1, end k4
Row 7: repeat row 2
Rows 8, 9, 10: repeat rows 3, 4, 5
Repeat these ten rows 10 more times (or until the shawl is desired depth (allowing for blocking) or until you almost run out of yarn). Knit two extra garter stitch ridges (4 rows) to match cast-on edge. Cast off loosely and darn in ends.
Wash and pin out flat to open up the pattern and straighten the edges.