Product Description
This shawl was designed in response to Susan’s diagnosis in 2016 with stage 3 breast cancer. It was one of two patterns originally created to fund raise for a local cancer charity, and in response to demand, both patterns are now once again available to purchase. FUBC #1 is a shawl reminiscent of a sheep’s horn, wrapping around the wearer’s shoulders. This shape was chosen to represent Susan’s experiences as a shepherd, caring for her flock of rare and native breed sheep.
FUBC #1 is worked from the top edge. As the knitting progresses a series of spines are created using yarn overs creating the central body of the shawl. Once this section has been completed a short row section is worked to create the sweep of the shawl. Finally a transition to a ribbed section brings the shawl to completion. The shawl is knitted in garter stitch throughout which means no additional action is needed when working the short row sections, the work is simply turned and continues in the opposite direction.
FUBC #1 Knitted Shawl by Susan Crawford Vintage
What is Being Made
FUBC #1 is a downloadable knitting pattern for a shawl designed by Susan Crawford Vintage. This intermediate-level knitted shawl is crafted using the garter stitch technique and is worked flat on circular needles. The shawl features a two-color colorwork design, combining a primary color with a complementary contrast shade.
Design and Purpose
Susan Crawford created FUBC #1 in response to her breast cancer diagnosis in 2016. Originally designed to raise funds for her local cancer charity, this pattern—along with its companion pattern FUBC #2—has raised over £2000 for charitable causes. The pattern remains available for purchase due to continued demand from the knitting community.
Knitting Techniques and Stitches
This shawl is constructed using garter stitch, one of the most fundamental and versatile knitting stitches. Garter stitch is created by knitting every row when working flat, producing a textured, reversible fabric with horizontal ridges. The pattern employs two-color knitting with a main color (MC) and contrasting color (CC), allowing for colorwork design elements throughout the shawl.
The shawl is knitted flat rather than in the round, meaning stitches are worked back and forth on the needles rather than continuously around a circular needle. Stitch markers are used as notions to help track pattern repeats and construction points.
Yarn and Materials
FUBC #1 uses Susan Crawford Bluem Sock yarn, a fingering weight yarn composed of 75% Bluefaced Leicester and 25% Nylon. Each 100-gram skein yields 395 meters or 432 yards of yarn. The pattern requires two skeins total: one skein in the shade Herb Garden for the main color and one skein in Buttermilk for the contrast color. Yarn kits are available directly from susancrawfordvintage.com.
The recommended needles are 5mm circular needles (US size 8) measuring 100 centimeters in length. While circular needles are specified, they are used for working flat rather than in the round, allowing the knitter to comfortably manage the shawl's width.
Gauge and Blocking
Achieving the correct gauge is essential for proper shawl dimensions and drape. Before blocking, the gauge measures 17½ stitches and 36 rows over 10 centimeters (4 inches) in garter stitch knitted flat. After blocking, the gauge adjusts to 17 stitches and 28 rows over the same 10-centimeter measurement, reflecting the significant change that occurs when the finished knitting is wet-blocked and dried to shape.
The gauge was obtained using 5mm needles. Knitters may need to adjust needle size up or down to achieve the specified gauge with their individual yarn and tension, as gauge varies between knitters.
Difficulty Level
FUBC #1 is rated as an intermediate knitting project, making it suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle slightly more complex construction or colorwork techniques. The garter stitch base is beginner-friendly, but the two-color work and shawl construction add intermediate-level challenge.
```Specifications
| Brand: | Independent Designer |
| Yarn Weight: | Fingering |
| Pages: | 12 |
| Designer: | Susan Crawford Vintage |
| Craft: | Knitting |
| Format: | Downloadable PDF |
| Languages: | English |
| Number of Patterns: | 1 |
| Skill Level: | Intermediate |
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