Asana Shawl

Description

A gentle crescent shawl with flowing lace and garter sections, Asana Shawl is a lovely special occasion piece, whether you’re preparing for one magical day or making an ordinary day magical through a bit of mindfulness. Optional beads add a flicker of light to its soft textures and quiet curves. Designed for lace or fingering weight yarn, it is delicate and light enough to wear even in the warmer months.

In yoga, Asana means “a position that is firm, but relaxed.” This attitude should be familiar to anyone who has ever learned to knit, or tried a new technique just outside of your comfort zone. Gritting your teeth and clenching your hands around your needles never helps. This shawl is a higher level of difficulty than the previous Shawl Society patterns: the lace is a bit more challenging and there are four rows where you are knitting lace rows on the wrong side. The actual stitches aren’t difficult, but you need to be in meditation mode (not multitasking mode!).

Concentration, relaxation and focus will get you through to the graceful result you want.

This pattern is written in the Curious Handmade Percentage Checklist style™

Charts are provided for the lace sections, along with line-by-line instructions.

Finished Measurements

Medium
Approximately 183cm (72”) diameter across straight top edge
46cm (18”) neck to bottom edge
Large
Approximately 213cm (84”) diameter across straight top edge
46cm (18”) neck to bottom edge

Yarn

Medium
The Uncommon Thread Tough Sock 80% Superwash Bluefaced Leicester wool, 20% Nylon, 365m/400yds per 100g skein, 2 x 100g skeins,
Colourway: Smudge
OR
200g of fingering or sock weight yarn totaling approximately 730m/800yds
Large

Eden Cottage Yarn Theseus Lace 75% Merino wool, 25% Silk, 800m/872yds per 100g skein, 1 x 100g skein,
Colourway: Oak
OR
80g of lace weight yarn totally approximately 640m/698yds

Needles

Medium
4mm (US 6), 80/100cm (32/40”) long circular needles (or size to obtain gauge)
Large
3.75mm (US 5), 80/100cm (32/40”) long circular needles (or size to obtain gauge)

Notions

Tapestry needle
Removable marker or safety pin

Beads

If using beads (optional)
US Steel Size 12/1.0mm Crochet hook (or hook small enough to fit through holes in beads)
Medium
Approx. 375 beads / 30g size 6 seed beads (beads used in sample are Miyuki beads)
Large
Approx. 440 beads / 35g size 6 seed beads

Gauge

Medium
19 sts/32 rows = 10cm (4”) in garter stitch after blocking
Large
22 sts/38 rows = 10cm (4”) in garter stitch after blocking

Gauge is not critical for this shawl, but a different gauge might result in a different yardage required.