I'll Remember April

I'll Remember April Shawl by yellowcosmo

What is Being Made

I'll Remember April is a crescent-shaped shawl designed by Connie Peng of yellowcosmo designs. This knitted shawl features a graceful crescent silhouette and is worked from the top edge downward. The pattern offers two finished size options: a medium measuring 70 inches wide by 12.5 inches tall (178 cm x 32 cm), and a large measuring 78 inches wide by 14 inches tall (198 cm x 35.5 cm). The shawl combines simple stockinette stitch sections with an elegant 46-row lace border, making it an ideal project for intermediate-level knitters seeking to expand their lace-working skills.

Knitting Techniques and Construction

The shawl employs a top-down construction method, beginning at the top edge and working progressively downward to the lace border. This approach allows knitters to try on the shawl during the knitting process and adjust the final size if desired. The pattern uses strategic increases to create the crescent shape: 4 stitches are increased on every Right Side row, while 2 stitches are increased on every Wrong Side row. This asymmetrical increase pattern generates the distinctive curved silhouette characteristic of crescent shawls.

The construction begins with plain stockinette stitch in the upper section, establishing the foundation of the shawl before transitioning into the decorative lace border. The lace border comprises 46 rows of patterned knitting that adds visual interest and an airy quality to the finished piece. The pattern includes a chart that displays only Right Side (odd-numbered) rows, a common convention in knitting patterns that simplifies chart reading by showing only the rows worked from the knitter's perspective.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches as its foundation:

• Knit stitch (k) – the primary stitch used throughout the stockinette sections
• Purl stitch (p) – used in combination with knit stitches to create texture and lace patterns
• Stockinette stitch – the main stitch pattern for the upper portion of the shawl, created by alternating knit rows on the Right Side with purl rows on the Wrong Side
• Lace stitch patterns – the 46-row lace border incorporates yarn overs and decreases to create openwork designs

Stitch markers are optional but recommended for tracking pattern repeats throughout the lace border section. If used, markers must be repositioned before row 49 as indicated in the accompanying chart to accommodate decrease stitches that shape the shawl's final edge.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The shawl is knitted using fingering weight yarn, a thin, delicate yarn that creates elegant drape and definition in lace patterns. Yarn yardage requirements are 465 yards for the medium size and 600 yards for the large size, allowing knitters to select appropriate yarn quantities based on their chosen finished dimensions.

The pattern calls for US #6 needles, which are appropriately sized for fingering weight yarn and the specified gauge. The working gauge is 16 stitches by 30 rows over a 4-inch by 4-inch (10 cm by 10 cm) square measured in stockinette stitch. Maintaining this gauge is essential for achieving the intended finished measurements and ensuring proper drape of the lace border.

Difficulty Level

Rated as an intermediate project, I'll Remember April is suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to work with lace patterns. The combination of straightforward stockinette stitch sections with a charted lace border provides an accessible introduction to lace knitting without overwhelming complexity. Knitters should be comfortable reading charts, managing increases and decreases, and working with fingering weight yarn before beginning this project.