Orchid Dreams is a heart-shaped, lace shawl that features rows of lace blocks and garter stitch rows radiating out from a central spine. Ideal for any formal dinner or date, this shawl is the perfect blend of lightweight lace and close-knit warmth to keep you warm despite the winter’s chill.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: 80” wingspan with 31” depth, relaxed after blocking
Gauge: 15 sts and 24 rows = 4” [10 cm] in Four Spot Lace pattern, relaxed after blocking
Material
Yarn:
SweetGeorgia Yarns CashLuxe Fine (70% merino, 20% cashmere, 10% nylon fiber; 400 yards [366 meters]/100 grams): Orchid (2 skeins)
Needles: US size 7 (4.5 mm) 32” circular needles
Notions: Markers, blocking material (mat, blocking wires, rustproof T-pins)
Pattern Notes
Pattern is worked flat, top down, and begins at the top center with casting on of few stitches. The heart shape is achieved by increasing the stitch count by 6 on every right side row through yarn overs. Two yarn overs at the beginning, two at the end and two in the middle of each row achieve the stitch count increase and provide a central spine to the shawl.
It is important to keep track of the spine stitch marking center of the shawl.
The lace patterns, worked on both sides of the center spine, are mirror images of each other.
Two edge stitches at the beginning and end of the row are always knit.
Sections of lace pattern alternate with two row garter patterns to form the shawl body.
Blocking is required to set the lace patterns and shape of the shawl.
Special Stitches
Four Spot Lace Pattern
Row 1 (RS): K2, yo, k1, yo, k2. (2 sts inc’d)
Row 2 (WS): K2, p3, k2.
Row 3: K2, (yo, k1) 3 times, yo, k2. (4 sts inc’d)
Row 4: K2, p7, k2.
Row 5: (K2, yo, k1, yo) 3 times, k2. (6 sts inc’d)
Row 6 and all other WS Rows, unless otherwise specified: K2, p to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 7: K2, (yo, k1) 2 times, yo, sk2p, yo, k1, yo, PM, k1, yo, k1, yo, sk2p, (yo, k1) 2 times, yo, k2. (6 sts inc’d)
Row 9: K2, yo, k1, yo, k2, skp, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, (k1, yo) 2 times, k1, skp, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2. (6 sts inc’d)
Row 11: K2, (yo, k1, yo, k11) 2 times, yo, k1, yo, k2. (6 sts inc’d)
Row 13: K2, (yo, k1) 2 times, yo, k2tog, k1, *yo, sk2p, yo, k3, yo, sk2p,* (yo, k1) 3 times; rep from * to *, yo, k1, skp, (yo, k1) 2 times, yo, k2. (6 sts inc’d)
Row 15: K2, yo, k1, yo, k2, yo, k2tog, k1, (skp, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k1) 2 times, (yo, k1) 2 times, (skp, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k1) 2 times, skp, yo, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2.
Rows 17, 29 and 33: K2, yo, k1, yo, k all sts to marker, yo, k1, yo, k all sts to last 3 sts, yo, k1, yo, k2.
Row 19: K2, (yo, k1) 2 times, yo, sk2p, *yo, k3, yo, sk2p*; rep from * to 1 st from center spine st, (yo, k1) 3 times, yo, sk2p; rep from * to last 4 sts, (yo, k1) 2 times, yo, k2.
Row 21: K2, yo, k1, yo, k2, skp, yo, k1, *yo, k2tog, k1, skp, yo, k1*; rep from * to 3 sts from center spine st, yo, k2tog, (k1, yo) 2 times, k1, skp, yo, k1; rep from * to last 7 sts, yo, k2tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2.
Row 23: Same as Row 17.
Row 25: K2, (yo, k1) 2 times, yo, k2tog, k1, *yo, sk2p, yo, k3; rep from * to 4 sts from marker, yo, sk2p, (yo, k1) 3 times; rep from * to * to last 10 sts, yo, sk2p, yo, k1, skp, (yo, k1 ) 2 times, yo, k2.
Row 27: K2, yo, k1, yo, k2, yo, k2tog, k1, *skp, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k1*; rep from * to 6 sts from marker, skp, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, (k1, yo) 2 times, k1; rep from * to * to last 7 sts, skp, yo, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2.
Row 30 and 34: K2, p across to last 2 sts, k2.
Rows 31 and 35: K2, yo, k1, yo, p across to the marker, yo, k1, yo, p across to last 3 sts, yo, k1, yo, k2.
Rows 32 and 36: K all the sts except yarn overs and the center spine st.
Work these 36 rows for pattern.
Pattern
Row by Row Instructions
CO 5 sts using knitted cast on method.
Work Rows 1-36 of Four Spot Lace Pattern.
Work Rows 17-28 twice.
Work Rows 29-36 once.
Rep Rows 17-28 twice, and then Rows 29-36 once more.
Work Rows 17-22 one last time.
Chart Instructions
CO 5 sts using knitted cast on method.
Work Rows 1-6 of Four Spot Lace Pattern.
Work Rows 7-36 of Four Spot Lace Chart once.
Work Rows 17-28 of Four Spot Lace Chart twice.
Work Rows 29-36 of Four Spot Lace Chart once.
Rep Rows 7-36 of Four Spot Lace Chart once, and then work Rows 17-28 of Four Spot Lace Chart twice.
Work Rows 17-22 once more.
Finishing
BO all sts loosely.
Weave in ends. Block well. 
I am having difficulty with this pattern. I am at the section where you repeat rows 7-36. directions are not really clear as to where to start the repeats in the row or is the entire row repeated, referring to the earlier rows like row 7. thanks.