St Aubin's Bay

St Aubin's Bay Shawl by Anniken Allis

What is Being Made

St Aubin's Bay is an intermediate-level crescent shawl designed by Anniken Allis. This knitted accessory features a distinctive curved silhouette with two distinct sections: an inner crescent measuring 226cm (89 inches) and an outer crescent measuring 310cm (122 inches) in length, with a depth of 36cm (14 inches) after blocking. The shawl is worked from the top down and incorporates decorative beaded embellishments as a design feature.

Techniques Used

The construction of St Aubin's Bay employs several key knitting techniques suited to intermediate-level crafters. The shawl is knitted top-down, allowing for customizable sizing and the ability to try on during construction. A specialized beading technique is incorporated using the crochet hook method, which involves placing beads onto a small crochet hook, lifting stitches off the left-hand needle, and securing the beads within the knitted fabric. This method creates an integrated beaded detail rather than surface embellishment.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The pattern is worked in a stitch pattern that achieves a tension of 14 stitches and 40 rows over 10cm (4 inches) when knitted in 4-ply yarn. The designer notes that exact tension is not essential to the success of the project, though variations in tension may affect the final dimensions and yarn yardage required. The crescent shaping is achieved through strategic increases and decreases worked within the stitch pattern structure.

Materials and Tools

Yarn: The pattern requires 2 skeins of 4-ply sock yarn, with each skein providing 400 meters (440 yards) per 100 grams. The sample shown was knitted in String Theory Caper Sock using one skein each of Citron and Juice colorways.

Needles and Hooks: Construction requires a 4mm (UK 8/US 6) circular needle measuring 80cm (32 inches) for the inner crescent section. A 6mm circular needle is needed for the outer crescent section, measuring 310cm (122 inches) in length. Additionally, a 0.75mm (US 13) crochet hook is used for the bead application process.

Notions: The design incorporates 67 light green 6mm miracle beads as decorative elements integrated throughout the shawl using the crochet hook beading method.

Pattern Information

This is a downloadable PDF pattern suitable for intermediate knitters. The pattern was designed by Anniken Allis in 2014 and is intended for personal use only. Exact tension is not critical to the pattern's success, making it an accessible project for knitters with varying experience levels within the intermediate range.