Used up a lot of orphan skeins I had collected during my travels. The thicker yarns (Llama, mohair/merino, silk/cotton, merino, wool/silk) are mostly local yarns I bought at various places, often from small farms or very small local dyers. The thinner yarns (laceweight, cobweb weight, fingering weight, all merino) are commercial yarns that are widely available.

Throughout most of the shawl, I held the three thinner yarns together with one thicker yarn, changing out the thicker yarn as desired. In this way, each section of the shawl is “local,” representing the fiber arts of a particular area, but the whole shawl is held together by the subtler presence of the “global” commercial yarns.

Approximate notes:

Using smaller needle, CO 2 sts

Row 1: sl1, yo, knit to end
Row 2: knit

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until shawl is approx. 5 inches shorter than desired width across back (hereafter referred to as the “long edge”). Bind off with 2 st icord using larger needle.

Using smaller needle, pick up and knit one stitch per garter ridge along the remaining short edge of the shawl (not the long edge and not the edge you just bound off). Work in Old Shale, alternating colors every two rows and increasing 1 st in pattern every other row 1 st from long edge. Work until lace border is 5 inches long and bind off using 2 st icord and larger needle.

Using big-ass crochet hook, work six 12-inch sc chains. Tie three chains together at one end and braid to end, then knot twice and weave in ends from knot (or trim and leave out, to taste). Repeat with other three chains.

Undo the knot at start of braid and attach to the left end of the long edge of the shawl. Repeat for second braid and right end of long edge. Braids will extend the length of the shawl back, allowing the shawl to be worn wrapped and tied around the body as with Faroese shawls. (Would have just made it wider, but was running out of yarn!)

Weave in ends, block. Result will be subtly asymmetrical.

For a stretchier long edge (mine was a little tighter than I would like), work the increases by wrapping the yarn around the needle twice (rather than once, as in a regular yo). Next row, knit into the first wrap as normal and drop the second before knitting the last stitch of the row.

I call the 3rd photo down “bitch you wan’ play?”