BASIC INSTINCTS SHAWL

Designed by Zhenya Lavy Published February 2011

A reversible triangle shawl knit side-to-side with simple techniques designed to maximize small
quantities of yarn. Pattern is easily adjustable for whatever amount of yarn you want to use. An airy
faggot stitch worked on larger needles than normally called for by fingering-weight yarn makes this
shawl light as a whisper. Vertical bands of garter stitch form pretty vertical lines and add textural and
visual interest. And because of the sideways construction, any striping effects in the yarn are oriented
vertically for a more slimming look, overall. Especially lovely in yarn with a light halo or glammed out
in a silky yarn with a bit of sparkle, the shawl can be worn draped over the shoulders as an elegant
wrap or coiled around the neck as a luxurious cowl.

ITEMS NEEDED
• Fingering weight yarn, 430 yards for size pictured (Cherry Tree Hill’s Fingering Alpaca, Spring Frost, 2
50g skeins). Wind yarn into 2 equal center-pull balls.
• US 6 – 4.0 mm needle. • Tapestry needle
STITCHES USED
• Knit, Purl, K2tog, YO, Ktbl (through back loop)
• SSK: Slip 1 as if to knit, slip the next as if to purl, knit these together through back loop.
• M1L (Make 1 Left): Insert the left needle, front to back, under the horizontal strand between last stitch
worked and first stitch on left needle. Knit through back loop.
• Faggot stitch: *YO, K2tog* (repeat)
 Basic Instincts Shawl — Page 2 of 4

ORIENTATION

Don’t let these instructions fool you: The shawl is essentially a 2-row pattern with alternating increases or
decreases. Adjusting for the rows with an uneven stitch count is what complicates the writing.

The finished shawl is a large triangle, with all increases and decreases made along the same edge (angled edge).
The opposite edge is straight.
Increasing rows start from the angled edge.
Decreasing rows start from the angled edge.
Maintaining rows start from the straight edge.

Five bands of garter stitch divide the shawl into six sections: 3 increasing, 3 decreasing. In the sample, the
garter bands are placed as follows: one at center back, one at each shoulder, and one to be visible near each
corner in the front. If you experiment with the placement or number of garter bands, maintain symmetry by
using an odd number of no fewer than 3 and leave enough space for the faggot stitch to breathe.

After working a garter band, simplify the task of lining up the faggot stitch properly by always planning for the
final garter row to be an Increasing or Decreasing row and for the first row re-establishing the faggot stitch to
be a Maintaining Row.

The faggot stitches naturally fall into pairs on the needles, making them easy to count by twos. This pattern
refers to them as YO K2tog pairs and uses them for counting. (9 YO K2tog pairs = 18 stitches)

Reading your stitches: The faggot stitch is comprised of a YO followed by a K2tog (i.e. The YO sits to the right
of the K2tog on the needle). Because you are working flat and knitting back in the opposite direction over the
previous row, each YO K2tog pair will be knit on
top of another YO K2tog pair, but the previous
pair will appear in reversed order.

About those even/odd designations: After some

row names in the instructions, you will see an
even or odd designation. This refers to the total
number of stitches on the needle once you have
completed that particular row.

The even/odd designation will not generally be

meaningful unless you decide to alter the
placement or width of the garter band. Feel free
to ignore the even/odd designations or use them
as tools to help you in your own modifications!

Dividing the yarn ball: To ensure equal sides on

this shawl, either use a scale to divide total yarn
weight in half and wind into two equal cakes or
select yarn put up in 50g skeins. Knit increasing
rows until the first skein runs out; switch to the
second skein for the decreasing rows. Remember
to switch to garter stitch 4 rows before the first
skein runs out.
 Basic Instincts Shawl — Page 3 of 4

CAST ON AND SET-UP ROWS

Using your favorite method, cast on 4 stitches.

R1 Set-Up row: K1, M1L, K to end

R2 Set-Up row: K

Work these two rows until you have 9 stitches on the needle at the conclusion of a Set-Up R2 row.

INCREASING SECTIONS

R1 Increasing row (even): K1, M1L, K2, *YO, K2tog* (repeat to last 4 stitches), K4
R2 Maintaining row (even): K4, *YO, K2tog* (repeat to last 4 stitches), K4
R3 Increasing row (odd): K1, M1L, K3, *YO, K2tog* (repeat to last 4 stitches), K4
R4 Maintaining row (odd): K4, *YO, K2tog* (repeat to last 5 stitches), K5

For Increasing Section 1:

• Work the above 4 rounds until there are 11 YO K2tog pairs (i.e. 22 stitches) between your edging
stitches, ending having just completed an R1.
• Starting from the straight edge of the shawl, work 6 rows of garter stitch (3 ridges) – remember to
continue making the K1 M1L increase on the angled edge of the shawl.
• End the garter band having just completed an Increasing row. (Had you continued the faggot stitch
instead of switching to garter, this sixth row would be an Increasing (R3) row.
For Increasing Section 2:
• Starting with a Maintaining (R4) row, work the above 4 rounds until there are 33 YO K2tog pairs
between your edging stitches. End having just completed an R1.
• Starting from the straight edge of the shawl, work 6 rows of garter stitch (3 ridges) – remember to
continue the K1 M1L increase on the angled edge of the shawl.
• End the garter band having just completed with an Increasing (R1) Row. (Had you continued the
faggot stitch instead of switching to garter, this sixth row would be an Increasing (R3) row.
For Increasing Section 3:
• Starting with a Maintaining (R4) row, work the above 4 rounds until there are 47 YO K2tog pairs
between your edging stitches. End having just worked an Increasing (R1) row.

CENTER GARTER BAND

• Starting from the straight edge of the shawl, work 8 rows of garter stitch (4 ridges) as follows:
o For rows 2 and 4 of the garter band, continue the K1 M1L increase on the angled edge of the
shawl.
o For rows 6 and 8 of the garter band, switch to the SSK decrease on the angled edge of the
shawl (i.e. SSK, K to end).
• End having just completed a Decreasing row.
 Basic Instincts Shawl — Page 4 of 4

DECREASING SECTIONS

R1 Decreasing row (even):
R2 Maintaining row (even):
R3 Decreasing row (odd):
R4 Maintaining row (odd):
SSK, K3, *YO, K2tog* (repeat to last 4 stitches), K4
K4, *YO, K2tog* (repeat to last 4 stitches), K4
SSK, K3, Ktbl the YO from previous row, *YO, K2tog* (repeat to
last 4 stitches), K4
NOTE: If you don’t knit the YO through the back loop, you will create an
eyelet and the two sides of your shawl will not match.
K4, *YO, K2tog* (repeat to last 5 stitches), K5

For Decreasing Section 1:

• Starting with a Maintaining (R2) row, work the above 4 rounds until there are 35 YO K2tog pairs
between your edging stitches, ending having just completed a Decreasing R1 row.
• Starting from the straight edge of the shawl, work 6 rows of garter stitch (3 ridges) – remember to
continue making the SSK K3 decrease on the angled edge of the shawl.
• End the garter band having just completed a Decreasing row. (Had you continued the faggot stitch
instead of switching to garter, this sixth row would be a Decreasing (R3) row.
For Decreasing Section 2:
• Starting with a Maintaining (R4) row, work the above 4 rounds until there are 13 YO K2tog pairs
between your edging stitches. End having just completed a Decreasing (R1) row.
• Starting from the straight edge of the shawl, work 6 rows of garter stitch (3 ridges) – remember to
continue the SSK K3 decrease on the angled edge of the shawl.
• End the garter band having just completed a Decreasing row. (Had you continued the faggot stitch
instead of switching to garter, this sixth row would be a Decreasing (R3) row.
For Decreasing Section 3:
• Starting with a Maintaining (R4) row, work the above
4 rounds until only 9 stitches remain on the needle.

COMPLETION ROWS AND BIND-OFF

R1 Completion row: K
R2 Completion row: SSK, K

Work these two rows until only 4 stitches remain. Bind off.

FINISHING

Weave in all ends.

Soak finished shawl in warm water for about 15 minutes.

Do not agitate. Gently press out excess water.

Block to desired size. Let dry.

This pattern is copyright-protected.
© Zhenya Lavy, February 2011
www.aestheticentanglementz.blogspot.com.
All rights reserved. This pattern is made available for personal, non-commercial
use only. Permission is not granted for you to make garments from this pattern for sale
anywhere or to mass-produce this pattern or garments made from it.