A ribbon of zigzag lace with a yarnover selvedge forms the foundation for this pretty triangular shawl. Stitches picked up from the yarnovers take a few steadying ridges of garter stitch while decreases are established at the edges and spine, then begin to intermingle in a traditional two-sided lace pattern before relaxing into an ever-diminishing field of garter. This perfect balance of focused effort and straightforward plain knitting has made Rock Island an enduring favorite in the Brooklyn Tweed archives.

Construction

This lace triangle is worked from the outside in, starting with the lace edging which is worked side-to-side with a yarn over selvedge. After the lace edging is completed, stitches for the main section of the triangle are picked up from the yarn over selvedge. The remainder of the piece is worked from the bottom up and shaped with decreases until only a few stitches remain at the top center of the triangle. To finish, these remaining stitches are grafted together.

Yardage

680 total yards of laceweight wool yarn

Yarn

2 skeins Brooklyn Tweed Vale (100% American Rambouillet wool; 450 yards/50 grams)
Photographed in color Thaw

Gauge

16 stitches & 30 rows = 4″ in garter stitch, after blocking

Needles

One 32” circular needle in size needed to obtain gauge listed
Suggested Size: 4½ mm (US 7)

Finished Dimensions

68” wingspan 172.5 cm & 31” 78.5 cm height at center spine
Measurements taken from relaxed fabric after blocking

Tutorials for all special techniques listed below are included in the pattern:
Kitchener Stitch (Grafting)

Skill Level

4 out of 5