Leafy Buttons Stay Put Shawl

Buttons Shawl

I wanted a shawl that is easy to wear when I'm active.  The shape stays on and with the addition of the front button, I can walk the dogs, drive, go shopping-- whatever.  Also you can add buttons on the inside of the 2 points between sections and have sleeves.  

There are three sections designed to stay on the shoulders, with the optional additions of a few strategic buttons to turn it into a shrug or just to stay on better.  

Abbreviations

K knit

P purl

K2tog knit 2 together- right leaning decrease

SSK Slip, slip, knit these 2 stitches together- left leaning decrease

YO yarn over

PM place marker

SM slip marker

RM remove marker

WS wrong side

RS right side

Start with Garter Tab

Cast on 3 stitches

Knit 11 Rows

Turn and pick up 5 stitches on purl ridge near the edge

Turn and pick up 3 stitches along the cast on edge

11 stitches on the needle

Foundation Row (WS)

K2, PM, K1, PM, K2, PM, K1, PM, K2, PM, K1, PM, K2

Row I: (RS) K2, SM, YO, **knit to marker YO, SM, K2, SM, YO**  Repeat **  ** 2 times,   SM YOK2

Row 2: K2  *P to marker, SM, K2* , repeat ** 2 more times. Purl to marker, SM, K2.

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until there are 15 stitches (WS) in each panel between yarn overs.  RS K2 YO, PM and begin row 1 of small chart, knitting one stitch after the 14 chart stitches.    Even rows are purl. All of the WS rows are purl.

The second chart shows how the pattern will repeat as you have more stitches in that section.

Continue until center back measures, from center of neck edge to last row, 13” blocked (shorter shawl) or 14” blocked for a longer shawl (or shorter or longer if you prefer), ending on a wrong side row.

Work 4 more rows and then work the last Border Chart, continuing (K2, YO)'s until the last row. 

Optional Buttons

Try the shawl on and figure out where you’d like a button on the left front edge.  Sew 2 buttons on the inside of the points, where the increases were made between sections.  You can button these against the edges for sleeves. 

Please contact me with any questions.

I have added some more directions to this pattern, and I hope it helps.

Charts

Chart Key

Blank spaces:    Knit on right side, purl on wrong side
                        Knit on wrong side, purl on right side
⁄                        K2tog, right leaning decrease
\                         SSK, left leaning decrease
                       Yarn over
Solid black square= no stitch

Notes on Chart 1

The chart is worked from right to left for the right side and left to right for the wrong side.

Every right side row begins with K2, YO, and has YO, K2, YO, between the triangle sections, ending with YO, K2.  The wrong side rows begin with are purl except knit the 2 first and last stitches, and between the YO increases separating the sections.

For example:

Row 1: K2, PM, YO, PM, K6, K2TOG, K3, YO, K1, YO, SSK, K1 PM, YO, PM, KnK2,** YO* repeat one more time from *, then repeat from * ending on **

Row 2 (and all even rows) Knit the 2 stitches between or next to YO increases, Purl the rest.

Chart 2

This chart only shows the right side rows, knit all from right to left.  All wrong size rows are purled.   

Use this chart to count where to add new pattern repeats.  The 17 stitches show a full repeat, but it isn't necessary to start there.  Every 8 rows the design alternates.  Depending on the stitches available for the next 8 row, count back from the pattern on the row below and PM.  Begin either with a K2TOG, YO, K1, YO (as in row 1 of chart) or YO, K1, YO, SSK (as in row 5 on chart)



                                            

 Sometimes you may want to add a leaf without having enough stitches to do the corresponding decreases.  The way this shawl is shaped the extra stitch (from the yarn over without the decrease) won't matter.

Border

RS. K2, YO, PM, work border chart, repeating until the last 2 stitches, PM, YO, K2.

As you continue with chart, work stitches between YO’s and markers in stockinet stitch (k on right side, purl on wrong side).  

Border chart

Bind off in purl.