The MADvent Shawl is inspired by this crazy year of 2020. Who would have thought that 2012 would go by without a hitch, but 2020 would be nothing but disasters? The best word to describe this year, I think, is “mad”, since it has been both absurd and frustrating. I have felt mad a lot, in both senses of the word! I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait for 2020 to be over, so why not take advantage of a fun yarn advent calendar to help count down these last few cursed days?

Pattern Description

Designed for 24 colours plus a neutral contrast skein in fingering weight, this crescent-shaped shawl is purling-free and lots of fun to make. It is made seamlessly in one piece, and is a great shape for wrapping and wearing. Work a little bit of the wavy edge every day and you’ll go from yarn in boxes to a beautiful, warm finished shawl in time for New Year’s Eve! You can wear it proudly as you count down to midnight… even if that countdown happens on your couch in your pyjamas, just like it did for lots of us in 2020.

The wide, rectangular edge of the shawl is worked first, then the selvedge stitches are picked up with the neutral contrast colour and the crescent shape is formed using decreases. No short rows required! The pattern includes corresponding written instructions for the chart, as well as links to video tutorials for many techniques, so the pattern is accessible to an intermediate knitter, or even an advanced beginner.

Yarn Requirements and Sizing

Fingering or light fingering weight yarn is required for this pattern.

Shawl Edge: Up to 440 (840) m / 480 (960) yards.
Shawl Body: Approximately 175 (440) m / 190 (480) yards (note that in the larger size this includes the coloured stripes).

The Small size is a generous shawlette: 120 cm / 48 inches long and 35 cm / 14 inches deep. The Large size is a more substantial wrappable shawl: 200 cm / 78 inches long and 45 cm / 18 inches deep.

No advent calendar? No problem! Gather up your leftovers and miniskeins and make the edge in any combination you like. Go wild and make your colour choices reflect this ridiculous year!

This pattern was originally designed for the pretty.string Lord of the Rings 2020 Advent Calendar.