The Geode Crystals Shawl is inspired by the lines found inside a sliced-open geode. Geodes are round rock structures with an internal cavity lined with mineral materials. They have a durable outer wall that looks like ordinary rock, but if you break it open, there are layers of beautiful crystals inside. Glittering white quartz and light grey agate are commonly found in geodes, but many of them also contain bands of spectacular colours such as purple amethyst, blue silica, or pink rhodochrosite.

Pattern Description

Designed for four or more colours in fingering weight, this three-quarter circle shawl is straightforward to make and comfortable to wear. Composed primarily of stripes made up of both a crystalline mesh-style lace and stockinette stitch, it is worked seamlessly in one piece from a garter tab with pi shaping that blends seamlessly into the lace sections. The edge is worked primarily in garter stitch while also incorporating a beautiful and unique swirling texture stitch pattern.

Pattern instructions are provided in checklist form for easily keeping your place in the project. Corresponding written instructions for the lace chart are included, as well as links to video tutorials, so the pattern is accessible to an intermediate knitter or even an advanced beginner.

Yarn Requirements and Sizing

The finished size (after blocking) is approximately 75 cm / 30 inches deep with an arc length around the outer edge of 350 cm / 138 inches. This will vary depending on your exact yarn weight, needle size, and gauge, as well as how severely you choose to block the shawl.

This shawl requires approximately 1000 m / 1100 yards in total of fingering-weight yarn (this will vary depending on your exact yarn weight, needle size, and gauge). It works ideally with three colours that all contrast well with each other to highlight the layers in the body of the shawl, plus a dark neutral for the final edge section. But it can also be made in many bright colours, and don’t feel obligated to stick with solids! The wide sections of stockinette rows with the same stitch count allow lots of opportunities to use wild colours and even play with pooling colourways. Many of the stripes are easily suitable for mini skeins and leftovers from other projects!

To follow the same sequence as the sample, with three colours in the main body of the shawl and a fourth for the edge, you will need less than one skein of each colour. The precise yarn usage for the sample is broken down as follows:

• Colour A (“Amethyst”; dark purple): 235 m / 255 yards
• Colour B (“River Rock”; light grey): 245 m / 265 yards
• Colour C (“Alexandrite Effect”; variegated blue and purple): 305 m / 335 yards
• Edge Colour (“Basalt”; dark grey): 220 m / 240 yards

There are ten stripes in total in the body of the shawl, and a full breakdown of yarn requirements by stripe is provided in the pattern for your reference. Note that if you choose to use a different colour sequence from the sample (and particularly if you use fewer colours), you may need more than one skein of some of your colours. Keep an eye on how your yarn usage compares to the pattern estimates provided to help you avoid “yarn chicken” and make the best use of your yarn options!