Counterfort
“THIS DESIGN
is a straightforward application of the vortex shape,” explains Kate Atherley. “The double yarnovers and the very simple, linear patterning make for a bold look - geometric and clean, rather than fussy or delicate. The first section of the shawl is worked in a pattern spaced out between garter ridges. The lacier edging is created by working the patterned row from the first section every RS row, with no garter ridges in between.
“As worked, half the yardage is used for the first pattern, and the other half of the yardage for the edging pattern. This is easily adjusted; just make sure that you end Section 1 with Row 8 to get a tidy transition.”
SHAWL SET UP SECTION
Using 4.5mm circular needles, cast on 1 st. Set-up row (WS): KFB. 2 sts.
Row 1 (RS): KFB, K1. 3 sts.
Row 2: K2tog, KFB.
Row 3: KFB, K to end. 1 st inc’d.
Row 4: K2tog, K to last st, KFB.
Rows 5–8: Repeat Rows 3 and 4 twice more. 6 sts after row 7.
Row 9: KFB, K2tog, yo twice, SSK, K1. 7 sts. Row 10: K2tog, *(K1, P1) into double yo, K2; rep from * to last st, KFB.
Rows 11–16: Repeat Rows 3 and 4 three more times. 10 sts.
SECTION 1
Row 1 (RS): KFB, *K2tog, yo twice, SSK; rep from * to last st, K1. 1 st inc’d.
Row 2: K2tog, *(K1, P1) into double yo, K2; rep from * to last st, KFB.
Row 3: KFB, K to end. 1 st inc’d.
Row 4: K2tog, K to last st, KFB.
Rows 5–8: Repeat Rows 3 and 4 twice more.
Repeat Rows 1–8 until you’ve used up the first skein of yarn - or approximately half of the yardage - ending after Row 8.
SECTION 2
Row 1 (RS): KFB, *K2tog, yo twice, SSK; rep from * to last st, K1. 1 st inc’d.
Row 2 (WS): *K2tog, (K1, P1) into double yo, K2; rep from * to last st, KFB.
Row 3: K1, yo twice, SSK, *K2tog, yo twice, SSK; rep from * to end. 1 st inc’d.
Row 4: K2tog using first leg of yo as the second stitch, P1, K1, *K2, (K1, P1) into double yo; rep from * to last 4 sts, K2, P1, KFB.
Row 5: KFB, *K2tog, yo twice, SSK; rep from * to last 3 sts, K3. 1 st inc’d.
Row 6: K2tog, K1, *K2, (K1, P1) into double yo; rep from * to last 2 sts, K1, KFB.
Row 7: K1, yo twice, SSK, *K2tog, yo twice, SSK; rep from * to last 2 sts, K2. 1 st inc’d. Row 8: K2tog, *K2, (K1, P1) into double yo; rep from * to last 4 sts, K2, P1, KFB.
Repeat Rows 1–8 until you’ve just about run out of yarn, ending after any WS row. Leave yourself about 5–6 times the length of the lower edge in yarn for casting off.
Cast off using the Russian lace method: K2, *slip both sts back to left-hand needle, K2tbl, K1; rep from * to end.
FINISHING
Weave in ends and block to measurements, following any yarn care instructions on the ball band.