Through the Atmosphere Shawl and Shawlette – Digital Pattern

One of the first movies we watched during the Movie Marathon Week… Month… Months… of the 2020 Quarantine was The Aeronauts. Because I am a sucker for adventures, period dramas, historical fictions and the like, l was intrigued. The movie was fantastic and led to the drawings in the collection and became the inspiration for this shawl. I will admit, though, that I was singing “Let’s go Fly a Kite” from Mary Poppins the whole time (yes, I know that one is about a kite, but the new version has a song about balloons!) so I hope you’ll enjoy thinking about travelling “up, through the atmosphere” while you’re flying through the rows.

 Included in this download:

• Through the Atmosphere Shawl/Shawlette pattern
• Instructions for 2 sizes: shawl or shawlette
• Walk-through instructions for special techniques and link to additional resources
• Written instructions with supplemental chart

This pattern starts with a garter tab and is worked outward in arcs. The half pi
shape is maintained through periodic yarn over/knit 1 increase rows. Contrasting colored stripes are joined with dip stitches mimicking the ropes on a hot air balloon, while slip stitch scallops, a waving twisted stitch panel, and a knitted on bobble edging add to the festive atmosphere inspired by the many colors and patterns seen on hot air balloons. This shawl is large and can turn yarn chicken into an extreme sport. You won’t need a full 3 skeins in color A, but 2 skeins will be cutting it close. For those that like to play it safe, a shawlette variation is included beginning in Section 4. Likewise, with colors B and C, you may be able to get away with mini skeins for the shawlette. I recommend solid color or tonal yarns with good stitch definition to show off the various design elements.

Techniques to enjoy:

• Garter tab
• Half-pi shape
• Bobble edging with knitted cast on and joining decrease
• Twisted stitches
• Dip stitch
• Slipped stitches / catching strands
• Basic increases and decreases (k2 tog, ssk, yo)
• Color changes

Recommendations

• Solid or tonal yarns work best to show off the stitch details
• Mini skeins are great for contrast colors!