Shoals and Shoals Shawl by Eline Alcocer

Shoals and Shoals Shawl

Crochet
February 2023
Fingering (14 wpi) ?
24 stitches and 8 rows = 4 inches
in lace pattern
3.5 mm (E)
1640 yards (1500 m)
one size
UK
English
This pattern is available for kr.60.00 SEK buy it now

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The name of the shade of Nutiden yarn I used for this design is called “STILLA”, after the Pacific Ocean (Stilla Havet in Swedish). I wanted to capture a sense of flow both in the construction of the shawl itself, and with the shapes made by the lace pattern. If you look at the photo in which the shawl is in the background, slightly blurry, you might see a shoal of fish swimming across the shoulder!

ONE SIZE
Length 210 cm / 82.5”
Width at widest point 55 cm / 21.5”

CONSTRUCTION
The Shoals and Shoals shawl has a long, pointed oval shape. It starts with just a few stitches at one tip, increases to its maximum width, and is then worked straight before decreasing to the other tip. Throughout the shawl, the borders are made up of ribbed short rows. The length is easily adjusted by making the middle section longer or shorter.

YARN
Honer och Eir Nutiden
(fingering/sport weight; 100% unspun wool) in STILLA
Quantity - 300g
Note on the featured yarn: Nutiden is an unspun wool (also sometimes referred to as “pencil roving”) for which length/metre information is not available. This is because each batch is unique and density, thickness and length all vary. I have therefore provided information on how many grams of Nutiden are needed per size. Tips on working with this yarn are given in the Appendix. To substitute for a different yarn, please see “yarn alternatives” and “yardage required” below.

Yarn Alternatives
This shawl is designed for a heavy fingering/sport weight yarn. To obtain similar results to the featured yarn, use a lofty, woolen-spun, non-superwash wool (a few suggestions are given in the Appendix). Alternatively, anything with a natural halo (i.e. something that looks a bit fuzzy or hairy) and which will bloom with blocking will also work. For example, you could use alpaca, a rustic and untreated wool, or either of those held together with a strand of mohair. The shawl will feel significantly heavier if made in a plant-based fibre such as linen or cotton, or in a yarn containing silk.

Yardage required
Approx 1500 m / 1640 yds of heavy fingering/sport weight yarn.

FABRIC TYPE
Shoals and Shoals is worked in a single strand of unspun, sport weight yarn to a loose tension, producing a wonderfully airy yet warm fabric that just wants to drape for days. This design relies on the loftiness and natural halo of the yarn to “fill out” the gaps between stitches.

HOOKS, NEEDLES + NOTIONS
3.5 mm hook, or as required to obtain gauge
3 removable stitch markers
Wool needle
Recommended but not essential: blocking wires

GAUGE
22 sts x 13 rows = 10x10 cm / 4”x4” in ribbing pattern
24 sts x 8 rows = 10x12.5 cm / 4”x5” in lace pattern
NB: All swatches should be measured after wet blocking. Shawl is intended to be blocked aggressively.

TECHNIQUES TO ENJOY
Ribbing
Decreasing and increasing
Shell stitches
Filet lace
Short rows

PATTERN INCLUDES
Clear written instructions in UK terms
Stitch diagrams
Professionally tech-edited & test crocheted instructions
UK to US term conversion chart

SPECIAL THANKS
My deepest gratitude to my editor Elly and all the lovely testers who gave their time.

SHARING IS CARING
Share your makes using the #shoalsandshoalsshawl and #emmyandlien hashtags, and tagging @emmyandlien on social media.