My Reading Shawl

As I was sat reading one evening, I realised that my back was a little chilly. I noticed this again the following evening, and knew I had to do something about it! Over the next couple of days, an idea emerged in my mind. What if I could create a huge, squishy, comforting shawl to wrap around me whilst I was reading? Well, I did just that! I wanted to use yarn I already had, so after a little time pondering on this and a bit of stash diving I came up with the perfect combination. I took an advent calendar of yarn, and paired this with some yarn that I had dyed myself and got to work knitting. **Shawl Details** The shawl is knitted using fingering weight yarn held DOUBLE. It is worked in garter stitch, which combined with the doubled yarn makes for a super soft and cosy fabric. The shawl begins with a garter tab cast on. I have included a video tutorial for this method in the pattern. I used just one type of increase in this design - a KFB, which is my favourite to work and keeps everything simple and clean. It also produces a really pretty spine down the centre and the edge increases are super neat. The shawl is finished with a gorgeous picot bind off, which adds a beautifully feminine touch. You can of course work a standard bind off if you prefer. **Size** The shawl is very large and triangular in shape, which is just what I wanted. It feels like a wearable blanket! The finished shawl measures 85 inches (216 cm) wide and 40 inches (102 cm) deep. You can adjust this for a smaller or larger shawl if needs be. **Yarn** You will need 24 x 20g (85m/92yds) of fingering weight yarn and 4 x 100g of fingering weight yarn (400m/437yds per 100g). For the pattern sample I used an advent calendar of 20g mini skeins from Pixie Yarn, and then 4 skeins of the contrast yarn that I dyed myself. For each of the mini skein sections you will hold 2 minis together (12 sections total). The contrast sections are also held doubled (12 sections total). You do not have to use mini skeins, you can use leftovers of the same yardage if you prefer. I give full details in the pattern of how to make adjustments should your gauge be significantly differently to mine. You can substitute the fingering held double for a DK yarn, but be sure you have the correct yardage.