Free Knitting Pattern: The Picot Circle

After several months of designing and knitting mainly doll clothes (available here), I felt it was time for a large project; and I decided to knit a simple circular throw with a picot border, which can double up as a generously sized, ruffled shawl, when folded together in the middle. 

For this piece I used just over 550g of Hayfield Illusion dk yarn (shade: Magical for the body of the shawl and Presto as a contrast yarn for the Picot border). This yarn has a black colour base and a mix of changing bright colour shades. My pattern is worked in a simple stockinette stitch, which aims to showcase the yarn's colour variations. 

When complete, the shawl will measure approximately 1.1 m in diameter and I recommend choosing Knit Pro interchangeable circular needles, as these will allow the progressive addition of cable extensions whilst knitting.

As this is an acrylic yarn, blocking with a steam iron is imperative when finishing to achieve best results. More information on why and how to block acrylic yarn is available here and here.

Circular Shawl Knitting Pattern (Yarn: Hayfield Illusion DK)

Circular Shawl Knitting Pattern - Shawl Centre Detail  (Yarn: Hayfield Illusion DK)

Circular Shawl Knitting Pattern (Yarn: Hayfield Illusion DK)

Picot Circle Shawl

Knitting Pattern for Hayfield Illusion DK

Materials and Tools

• 560g of Hayfield Illusion dk yarn (5 skeins for the body of the shawl and approximately  half a skein in a contrasting shade for the picot border of the shawl)

• 4mm double-pointed needles

• 4mm and 5mm circular knitting needles (for this project I recommend Knit Pro circular needles, allowing you to extend the cable as required)

• Knit Pro interchangeable needle cables - in the final stages of the project the total length of the cable will measure around 2.5m

• 1 stitch marker

• Blocking pins and steam iron for steam blocking the finished object

Circular Shawl Knitting Pattern - Picot Border Detail  (Yarn: Hayfield Illusion DK)

Instructions

• Cast on 6 stitches and divide evenly on three 4mm double-pointed needles (dpns).

• Join in the round by placing the first stitch from the first dpn onto the third dpn and pull the last stitch from the third dpn over the first stitch and onto the first dpn. 

• Place marker to mark the beginning of the round.

• knit two rounds.

• knit in front and back (kfb) of each stitch (12 stitches) 

• knit three rounds

• [yarn over (yo), k1] to end (24 stitches)

• knit three rounds

• [yo, k1] to end (48 stitches) 

• knit four rounds

• [yo, k1] to end (96 stitches)

• knit five rounds and consider switching to 4mm circular needles

• [yo, k1] to end (192 stitches)

• knit 9 rounds

• [yo, k2] to end (288 stitches)

• knit 13 rounds

• [yo, k4] to end (360 stitches) - switch to 5mm circular needles afters this increase round

• knit 18 rounds 

• [yo, k8] (405 stitches) 

• knit 43 rounds

• At the beginning of the next round begin the picot bind off:  Cast-on 2 stitches and bind off 3 stitches. 

• Break yarn and sew-in ends.

• Use a steam iron to block the piece.

Circular Shawl Knitting Pattern (Yarn: Hayfield Illusion DK)

Circular Shawl Knitting Pattern (Yarn: Hayfield Illusion DK)

Circular Shawl Knitting Pattern (Yarn: Hayfield Illusion DK)

Circular Shawl Knitting Pattern (Yarn: Hayfield Illusion DK)

Circular Shawl Knitting Pattern - Detail (Yarn: Hayfield Illusion DK)

Circular Shawl Knitting Pattern (Yarn: Hayfield Illusion DK)

Should you require pattern support, please feel free to contact me via Ravelry, Twitter, by e-mail or leave a comment below.

This pattern is for personal use only and may not be reproduced for commercial purposes without permission. Neither may you sell any items made from the directions in this pattern.

© 2020 Clarice Asquith. All rights reserved. http://makedoandmendnovice.blogspot.com