Evenstar Shawl

Evenstar Shawl by Susan Pandorf

What Is Being Made

The Evenstar Shawl is an advanced laceweight knitting project from the Fellowship of the Ring Collection by designer Susan Pandorf. This is a beaded lace shawl with a finished diameter of 60 inches, creating a large, elegant circular garment suitable for experienced knitters seeking a complex and decorative accessory.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs advanced lace knitting techniques combined with bead integration. The design features the signature Evenstar stitch, which requires careful attention to stitch placement and tension. Beading is incorporated throughout the construction, necessitating the use of a crochet hook for threading seed beads onto the yarn during knitting. The pattern is worked in the round to create the circular shawl shape, demanding precision and experience with complex stitch sequences and shaping.

Stitches Used

• Evenstar stitch (primary decorative stitch specific to this design)
• Lace stitches (creating openwork patterns characteristic of laceweight projects)
• Beaded stitches (incorporating seed beads into the knit structure)

Materials Required

Yarn: 1500 yards of laceweight yarn. The sample was knit using Blue Moon Fiber Arts Silk Thread 2 in the Winter Solstice colorway, which provides a delicate, lustrous finish appropriate for this intricate lace design.

Notions: 3000 size 8 seed beads for beading embellishment throughout the shawl.

Tools: Size 3 (US) needles to achieve proper gauge, plus a crochet hook for the bead-threading technique during construction.

Gauge and Swatch Information

The pattern specifies a gauge swatch measuring approximately 6 inches wide by 4 inches tall. The designer strongly recommends completing a full swatch before beginning the main project, as this serves two purposes: verifying your personal gauge to ensure the finished shawl meets the intended 60-inch diameter, and practicing the Evenstar stitch to build confidence and familiarity with the pattern's unique stitch work before committing to the full project.