Fundy Bay Shawl - The Lighthouse Keeper's Wife KAL

Fundy Bay Shawl - The Lighthouse Keeper's Wife KAL

Join us as we read the book by Connie Scovill Small, The Lighthouse Keeper's Wife, and knit this shawl inspired by the humble yet intrepid life of not only Connie, but lighthouse keepers and sea-men and women up and down the coast!

This shawl is made on size 7US needles with Regal, a heavy DK weight. It's highly adaptable and forgiving on gauge: a great project for us to enjoy together. There are some optional edging, depending on if you want to flaunt your crochet knowledge or not. 

Below, just beyond that passage between the islands lies Avery Rock, where Connie and her husband tended the light on the unforgiving slice of ledge. The lighthouse was commissioned to be built by politicians who never saw the island, except on a map, and may have been oblivious to the severity of the conditions! All that remains now are a few iron poles stabbed into the rock, and the stories of adventure passed down in the form of lore. 

Construction notes:

The design is worked flat (not in the round). All wrong-side rows are purled. If you are working the tassels, the cast-off edge will have a slight undulation. If this bothers you, work a couple rows of garter stitch on both the cast on edge and after the last pattern repeat.

Materials:

3 Skeins Briggs and Little Regal available here 

Size 7 US straight or circular needles

Size 4.25-4.5 crochet hook for optional crochet trim

Cast on 60 stitches. 

Work pattern chart for 19 repeats, or until desired length. NOTE: the chart shows the right side rows ONLY. You will be purling every stitch on the wrong side of the work. 

/ = Knit two together

\ = Slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over

o = Yarn over

Tassels:

Cut 180 lengths of yarn, twice the length of desired tassels. Taking 3 strands, fold them in half and use a crochet hook to pull the loop through and make a half-hitch (bring the ends through the loop and tighten). Do this every other stitch for a total of 30 tassels per end.

Optional crochet trim:

On the end of the shawl, pick up and single crochet 60 stitches. Work 3 more rows of waistcoat (or granite) stitch. This stitch is done in the 'post' of the stitch, rather than the holes between the stitches. It gives a thicker, firmer fabric that looks similar to knitting. 

Next, chain 30, slip stitch into the next stitch, still working in the post (waistcoat/granite). Repeat this for each stitch, which should give you 58 loops, ending with a slip stitch in the last stitch. 

Repeat for the other end of the shawl. 

Written instructions for chart:

Row 1: knit 4, knit two together, knit 1, yarn over, knit 3, repeat to end.

Row 2 and all other wrong side rows: Purl

Row 3:Knit 3, knit 2 together, knit 2, yarn over, knit 3 repeat to end

Row 5: Knit 2, knit 2 together, knit 3, yarn over, knit 3, repeat to end

Row 7: Knit 1, Knit 2 together, knit 4, yarn over, knit 3

Row 9: Knit 2 together, Knit 5, yarn over, knit 3

Row 11: Knit 3, yarn over, knit 1, slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over, knit 4, repeat to end

Row 13: Knit 3, yarn over, knit 2, slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over, knit 3, repeat to end

Row 15: Knit 3, yarn over, knit 3, slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over, knit 2, repeat to end

Row 17: Knit 3, yarn over, knit 4, slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over, knit 1, repeat to end

Row 19: Knit 3, yarn over, knit 5, slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over, repeat to end

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