Chrysalis Shawl

Chrysalis Shawl by Andrea Jurgrau

What Is Being Made

The Chrysalis Shawl is a lace knit shawl designed by Andrea Jurgrau as part of the BadCatDesigns Metamorphosis Project from Winter 2011. This is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern that creates a large, elegant shawl suitable for winter wear. The design is scalable, allowing crafters to create one large shawl or multiple smaller versions depending on their preferences and available materials.

Craft and Techniques

This project uses knitting as the primary construction method. The shawl incorporates lace knitting techniques, which create openwork patterns through strategic yarn overs and decreases. The pattern includes charted lace sections, with at least Chart E requiring stitch marker placement for accurate pattern tracking. The shawl construction uses a provisional cast-on technique, allowing for a seamless or grafted finish. Beads are integrated into the design using a crochet hook to thread beads onto the yarn before knitting, a common technique for adding embellishment to lace projects.

Stitches and Pattern Details

The Chrysalis Shawl employs charted lace patterns that define its structure. The pattern utilizes standard knitting abbreviations and lace stitches involving yarn overs and decreases to create the openwork characteristic of lace shawls. Stitch markers are recommended throughout the pattern, with at least one required when working Chart E to maintain pattern accuracy across the lace sections.

Materials Required

• Yarn: 150 grams (1 cone) of 2/28 merino and silk blend from Colourmart in grey (or color of choice). The yarn is described as quite thin, feeling closer to a 2/36 weight despite its 2/28 designation, providing excellent drape for lace work.
• Beads: 10 grams of 2.5ml Japanese triangle beads, specifically Miyuki #1139 (or additional beads if making a larger piece). These smaller beads are distinct from standard 8/0 beads and require fewer beads per gram by weight.
• Needles: US 2 circular needles in 24 or 32 inch length (or appropriate size to achieve desired gauge)
• Crochet Hook: US 16 crochet hook for threading beads onto yarn
• Notions: Smooth waste yarn for provisional cast-on and stitch saving, yarn needle for finishing, blocking wires and t-pins for shaping, and stitch markers for pattern tracking

Finished Size and Customization

The finished size is adjustable based on crafter preference and material availability. The 150-gram cone of yarn is substantial enough to create one exceptionally large shawl or multiple smaller versions. Finished gauge information is referenced in the pattern, allowing crafters to calculate their preferred dimensions before beginning the project.