Saybrook Shawl

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Not sure what to make with those sock sets in your yarn stash? Why not knit the Saybrook Shawl?

Inspired by a weekend getaway in Old Saybrook, Connecticut, the Saybrook Shawl is a lightweight boomerang-shaped shawl that’s a breeze to knit up. It can be worn by either draping it loosely over the shoulders or layering it around the neck. It was designed using two sock sets & one full skein of sock weight yarn. Rows one & two are repeated throughout the entirety of the shawl with increases & decreases to create the boomerang shape. The color changes are denoted by working eight rows of striping, alternating old & new colors every other right-side row.

Where can you purchase the printable PDF pattern? Click the link to your favorite shop below, or save to your Pinterest board for later.

Want the FREE version instead? Find it here on the blog, plus read more about the design & inspiration, & yarn choice below.

The pattern was tech edited by Megan Wilding – CalmHouseCrafting

Design & Inspiration

The inspiration for the Saybrook Shawl came from a weekend trip with my husband and son to Old Saybrook this past Spring. We stayed in a waterfront resort, nestled between the Long Island Sound and Connecticut River. The view from our hotel room was spectacular!

I’ve had it in the back of my mind for a while now that I wanted to design a boomerang shawl. I love the curved shape and how nicely boomerang shawls hug the shoulders. I’m not a big shawl person; I’m more of a pullover or cardigan wearer, but boomerang shawls just seem to fit and not constantly fall off the shoulders. Plus, they can double as a drapey scarf!

Yarn Choice

With our hotel’s lighthouse logo in mind, I paired some sock weight yarn together from my stash and set to work.

I used two sock sets from SewrellaYarn’s Moana collection–Wayfinder & Maui–and paired them with Cascade Yarns Heritage in Golden Yellow. The rich, deep blue tones in the Moana-themed sock sets captured the marina perfectly, and the Golden Yellow was the perfect representation of the lighthouse glow.

Skill Level

Adventurous Beginner best describes the skill level for knitting the Saybrook Shawl.

Skills you’ll need to know:

  • Knit flat in Garter Stitch using fingering weight yarn
  • Change yarn colors at the start of a new row
  • Increase using Kfb (knit front to back)
  • Decrease using K2tog (knit two stitches together)
  • Slip stitches using Sl1wyif (slip one stitch purl-wise with yarn held in front)

Pattern

MATERIALS

  • 2 sock sets of Sewrella Yarn Classic Sock & 1 skein of Cascade Yarns Heritage or approximately 2,190 yds/2,003 meters of sock weight CYC category 1 yarn (see color charge for skeins & yardage used in pictured sample)
  • Size US 4/3.50mm knitting needles
  • Tapestry needle

FINISHED SIZE

Length: 52″/132cm x Width: 14:/36cm

The length is measured across from one wingtip to the other & the width is measured from the widest point of the shawl.

GAUGE

24 sts x 52 rows = 4″/10cm in Garter Stitch (blocked)

COLOR CHART & YARDAGE

A = Mini skein of Sewrella Yarn in You’re Welcome (approx. 87 yds/80 meters)
B = Full skein of Sewrella Yarn in Maui (approx. 438 yds/401 meters)
C = Full skein of Cascade Yarns in Golden Yellow (approx. 438 yds/401 meters)
D = Full skein of Sewrella Yarn in Wayfinder (approx. 438 yds/401 meters)
E = Mini skein of Sewrella Yarn in Voyagers (approx. 87 yds/80 meters)

ABBREVIATIONS

*Pattern is written in standard US terms*

Notes: The Saybrook Shawl is knit flat in garter stitch, starting with a cast on of five stitches & increasing by one stitch every other row on the wrong side. The knit front to back & knit 2 together increases & decreases on rows 1 & 2 create the curved boomerang shape. The first stitch of every row is slipped purl-wise with the yarn held in front to create smooth, even edges.

The color changes are denoted by working eight rows of striping, alternating old & new colors every other rightside row. Follow the pattern instructions where it says “work color-change striping” for the colors indicated. The colors are referred to in the pattern instructions as A, B, C, D or E. Refer to the Color Chart on page 2 for the skeins & approximate yardage used for each color in the knit sample shown.

To make the shawl longer & wider, continue working rows 1 & 2 until desired length & width.

PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS

CO 5 sts with color A.

R1 (RS): Sl1wyif, Kfb, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1. – 5 sts

R2 (WS): Sl1wyif, K to last 2 sts, Kfb, K1. – 6 sts

Rep R1 & R2 until R106. – 58 sts

Work color-change striping with colors A & B as follows:

Change to color B and rep R1 & R2, ending with R108. – 59 sts

Change back to color A and rep R1 & R2, ending with R110. – 60 sts

Change back to color B and rep R1 & R2, ending with R112. – 61 sts

Change back to color A and rep R1 & R2, ending with R114. – 62 sts

Change back to color B and rep R1 & R2 for 92 rows, ending with R206. – 108 sts

Work color-change striping with colors B & C as follows:

Change to color C and rep R1 & R2, ending with R208. – 109 sts

Change back to color B and rep R1 & R2, ending with R210. – 110 sts

Change back to color C and rep R1 & R2, ending with R212. – 111 sts

Change back to color B and rep R1 & R2, ending with R214. – 112 sts

Change back to color C and rep R1 & R2 for 84 rows, ending with R298. – 154 sts

Work color-change striping with colors C & D as follows:

Change to color D and rep R1 & R2, ending with R300. – 155 sts

Change back to color C and rep R1 & R2, ending with R302. – 156 sts

Change back to color D and rep R1 & R2, ending with R304. – 157 sts

Change back to color C and rep R1 & R2, ending with R306. – 158 sts

Change back to color D and rep R1 & R2 for 84 rows, ending with R390. – 200 sts

Work color-change striping with colors D & E as follows:

Change to color E and rep R1 & R2, ending with R392. – 201 sts

Change back to color D and rep R1 & R2, ending with R394. – 202 sts

Change back to color E and rep R1 & R2, ending with R396. – 203 sts

Change back to color D and rep R1 & R2, ending with R398. – 204 sts

Change back to color E and rep R1 & R2 for 20 rows, ending with R418. – 214 sts

BO & weave in all ends.

HELPFUL LINKS

How to Knit Smooth Even Edges – YouTube tutorial for working the Sl1wyif at the beginning of each row.

Contact

Please email me at gourdgeousknits@gmail.com if you have any questions about the pattern. Feel free to send and tag me in any photos of your works in progress and finished projects with #SaybrookShawl and #gourdgeousknits. I love seeing your knits and sharing them on my social media sites.

The patterns and photographs are the property of Kristin Strecker-Kellogg of gourdgeous knits and are for personal, non-commercial use. The selling or distribution of these patterns physically or electronically are not permitted. Please credit gourdgeous knits when sharing on social media with #gourdgeousknits.

© gourdgeous knits 2022

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