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How About a Shawl for Summer?

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Dowson triangular shawl berrocoI’ve taken a bit of a break from knitting to crochet a little scarf/shawl that might be just the thing for cool summer evenings or places with too much air conditioning (read: just about everywhere in the American south).

A simple shawl is a great summer project because you’re always shifting back and forth between hot places and cold places. Plus they’re great for travel knitting.

May I suggest Dowson by Berroco? This triangular shawl is really simple to knit, but the little lace panel at the back keeps in interesting (and provides a little ventilation). The wings keep it secure on your shoulders, and make it a little more fun than a straight triangle.

It’s worked in Folio, a blend of rayon and alpaca that has warmth and shine and comes in lots of great colors. Or use about 440 yards of any DK weight yarn in your stash.

I don’t really need another shawl, but this would be a great choice if you’re in the market for one.

[Photo: Berroco Yarns.]

 

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Comments

  1. this is a very confusing post. You state you are taking a break from knitting, then show a knitted shawl. Also, where is the pattern?

Have you read?

A Single Skein Shawl to Knit for Summer

Even more than normal this year I’ve been trying to use yarn that I already have. I’m doing lots of odd ball projects, scrappy things and small projects, but it’s also nice sometimes to be able to use a whole skein, and just a single skein, on a project for yourself or for a gift. 

The Sunburst Shawl by Jem Arrowsmith is a great option if you have a single skein of sock yarn (100 grams or 400-425 meters, which is around 437 to 465 yards) that you don’t want to make socks out of. 

The design includes a section of stockinette with blocks of simple lace mesh offset to make a zig-zag design across the shawl that looks sort of like the rays on a drawing of the sun. 

The lace is just yarn over, knit 2 together repeating, so this would be a great first lace knitting project if you haven’t tried that before. The designer also has a video tutorial on their website if you need more help with the technique. 

You can use any sock yarn you have on hand, but this one is especially fun with the brightly colored, variegated, speckly and sparkly yarns that you might not otherwise know what to do with. The solid section lets the colors play uninterrupted, while the lace part adds a bit of texture and gives a different look to the yarn. 

This asymmetrical triangle shawl measures about 73 inches or 185 cm in wingspan and is 18 inches/45.5 cm deep. 

There are several completed projects on Ravelry already so you can see who the design looks in different colors and types of yarn, from self stripping to more solid and tonal options. 

The pattern is available for free on Ravelry (note: on the designer’s website it says the pattern is free through Aug. 31, 2026, so I’m not sure if it will be free after that on Ravelry), and if you don’t happen to have the perfect skein of yarn to make this project, the designer also offers kits on their website that include the yarn, pattern and a stitch marker. 

[Photo: Jem Arrowsmith]