Celesta Crescent Shawl

Skill Level: Intermediate

Size: Shawl is 112” / [280 cm] around the outside edge x 16” / [40 cm] deep after blocking

Gauge: 22 sts and 24 rows = 4” [10 cm] in Garter St after blocking. (Gauge is not crucial for this piece).

Materials

Yarn: The Fiber Seed Sprout Seed Pack (90% Merino, 10% Nylon; 510 yards [460 meters]/135 grams): Purple Haze, 1 set

Needles: US size 5 (3.75 mm): 24” / [60cm] circular.

Notions: Markers; tapestry needle; about 180 size 6/0 beads (optional); small crochet hook for placing beads.

Abbreviations

CO – cast on

dec(‘d) – decrease(d)

inc(‘d) – increase(d)

k – knit

p – purl

psso – pass slipped stitch over

pm – place marker

RS – right side

s2kp –  sl 2 sts tog, k1, pass 2 slipped stitches over last knit st (2 sts dec’d  )

sl – slip

sm – slip marker

ssk – sl 1 st, sl 1 more st, knit these 2 together through back of loops (1 st dec’d).

st(s) – stitch(es)

St st – Stockinette stitch

WS – wrong side

Yo – yarn over

Special Stitches

Baby Cable (bc) (over 2 sts)

K2 together leaving both stitches on needle, then insert right-hand needle between the 2 stitches just knitted together and knit the first stitch again, then slip both stitches from needle together.

Make One (M1)

Insert needle in horizontal “bar” between 2 sts from back to front. Purl into this loop. One st increased.

Adding Beads 

To place bead, put a bead on a fine crochet hook, put next stitch on tip of crochet hook, slide bead up along hook and onto stitch. Place stitch back on needle and work the stitch.

When the stitch is a k2tog, work st first, then add bead.

Pattern Notes

If using a single yarn, ignore instructions to change colors. The shawl as shown used 460 yards [415 meters]/120 grams of fingering weight yarn.

It is helpful to use additional stitch markers during the lace section to help keep your place and detect any errors more quickly.

Pattern

Garter Tab Cast On

Using lightest color of 4 color gradient set, CO 3 sts.

Knit 6 rows.

Pick up and k 3 sts from side edge of garter stitch, then pick up and k 3 sts from CO edge – 9 sts.

Next Row (WS): Knit.

Part 1

Garter Stitch Section

Row 1 (RS): K3, (yo, k1) 3 times, yo, k3 – 13 sts.

Row 2 (WS): K3, yo, k to 3 sts from end, yo, k3 – 15 sts.

Row 3: K3, yo, k1, yo, pm, k2, pm, yo, k3, yo, pm, k2, pm, yo, k1, yo, k3 – 21 sts.

Row 4: K3, yo, (k to marker, sm, p2, sm) twice, k to 3 sts from end, yo, k3 – 23 sts.

Row 5: K3, yo, (k to marker, yo, sm, bc, sm, yo) twice, k to 3 sts from end, yo, k3 – 29 sts.

Row 6: Rep Row 4 – 31 sts.

Row 7: K3, yo, (k to marker, yo, sm, k2, sm, yo) twice, k to 3 sts from end, yo, k3 – 37 sts.

Rows 8-43: Rep Rows 4-7, 9 more times – 181 sts.

Change Color

On WS, change to second lightest color of gradient set.

Note:  I suggest changing colors 3 or 4 sts in from edge, so the yarn ends don’t show at edge of shawl.

Rows 44-63: Rep Rows 4-7, 5 times – 261 sts.

Change Color

On WS, change to third lightest color of gradient set.

Note: I suggest changing colors 3 or 4 sts in from edge, so the yarn ends don’t show at edge of shawl.

Row 64: Rep Row 4 – 263 sts.

Row 65: K3, yo, k1, (k2tog, yo) to 2 sts before marker, k2, yo, sm, bc, sm, yo, (k2tog, yo) to 2 sts before marker, k2, yo, sm, bc, sm, yo, k1, (k2tog, yo) to 5 sts from end, k2, yo, k3 – 269 sts.

Row 66: Rep Row 4 – 271 sts.

Row 67: Rep Row 7 – 277 sts.

Row 68: K3, yo, (p to marker, sm, p2, sm) twice, p to 3 sts from end, yo, k3 – 279 sts.

Row 69: Rep Row 5 – 285 sts.

Row 70: Rep Row 4 – 287 sts.

Row 71: K3, yo, (k2tog, yo) to 2 sts before marker, k2, yo, sm, k2, sm, yo, (k2tog, yo) to 2 sts before marker, k2, yo, sm, k2, sm, yo, (k2tog, yo) to 5 sts from end, k2, yo, k3 – 293 sts.

Rows 72-76: Rep Rows 66-70 – 311 sts.

Row 77: Rep Row 65 – 317 sts.

Row 78: Rep Row 4 – 319 sts.

Change Color

On RS, change to fourth and darkest color of gradient set.

Note: I suggest changing colors 3 or 4 sts in from edge, so the yarn ends don’t show at edge of shawl. Pull yarn ends through to WS.

Row 79: K3, yo, k to 3 sts from end, removing markers, yo, k3 – 321 sts.

Row 80: K3, pm, yo, (p70, M1) 4 times, p to last 3 sts, yo, pm, k3 – 327 sts.

Note: For edging, optionally use markers to help keep your place, every 2 or 3 repeats.

Row 81 (RS): K3, sm, yo, work Row 1 of Chart, to last marker, yo, sm, k3 – 329 sts.

Row 82 and all WS rows: K3, sm, yo, p to last marker, yo, sm, k3 – 2 sts inc’d.

Row 83: K3, sm, yo, work Row 3 of Chart, to last marker, yo, sm, k3 – 333 sts.

Row 85: K3, sm, yo, work Row 5 of Chart, to last marker, yo, sm, k3 – 337 sts.

Row 87: K3, sm, yo, work Row 7 of Chart, to last marker, yo, sm, k3 – 341 sts.

Row 89: K3, sm, yo, work Row 9 of Chart, to last marker, yo, sm, k3 – 345 sts.

Row 91: K3, sm, yo, work Row 11 of Chart, to last marker, yo, sm, k3 – 349 sts.

Row 93: BO very loosely, preferably using a stretchy bind-off.

Note: A stretchy bind-off helps the blocking process. A recommended method is as follows:

Slip 1, *k1, k2tog tbl from the right-hand needle by placing the left-hand needle through both sts from the front and then knitting them together through the back loops;* repeat until all sts have been bound off.

For Beaded BO as shown on shawl, place bead on every second (alternate) stitch right after the “k2tog tbl” is worked.

Additional Pattern Note

Afraid of running out of yarn?

At this point in the shawl, it takes about 9 yards / [8.25 meters] of yarn per row. It requires about the same amount to bind off normally, and about twice as much for a stretchy bind-off.

Measure your remaining yarn and calculate how many rows, including the bind-off row, you can complete.

You can bind-off early and still have a satisfactory result.

Finishing

Weave in ends. Block into circular crescent shape as shown below to open up lace design. Block edging into points.