Railway Shawl Free Knitting Pattern

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One of the things I love about Spring and Fall in Chicago is Roof Top stitching! There is something so perfectly magical about grabbing my latest project (or three), a fresh cup of coffee and getting lost in my stitches over the city. I designed the Railway Shawl using Lion Brand Yarn Color Made Easy on the rooftops of Chicago. That’s how it got it’s name actually because I was not far from the main Metra Station and depending on what rooftop I was on I could see or hear the trains. It gave me the idea to feature the drop stitch to give this chunky beauty some unexpected drape and texture. It is super cozy and the shawl back easily flips up like a hood when it gets blistering cold. I hope you love making this!

Materials:
Lion Brand Color Made Easy #5 Bulky Yarn
Main Color A - Smoky Quartz: 1 Ball (247 yards)
Color B - Basalt: 1 Ball (247 yards)
Color C - Pomegranate:  1 Ball (247 yards)
US 11 / 8 mm 40” circular needle
Large needle to weave ends

Stitches Used / Abbreviations:
k – knit
p - purl
yo – yarn over
co – cast on
bo – bind off
st(s) – stitch(es)
sl - slip
kfb – knit front and back
k2tog – knit 2 sts together
p2tog – purl 2 sts together 

Finished Measurements:
Width across top edge: 76” Approx
Depth in center: 26” Approx

Gauge:  4 inch sq = 9 stitches x 16 rows in garter stitch

WITH MAIN COLOR A:
CO 3.
Row 1: SL 1st st, Kfb, k1, Turn. (4 sts)
Row 2: Knit, Turn.
Row 3: SL 1st st, Kfb, k to end, Turn. (5 sts)
Row 4: Knit, Turn.
Rows 5 – 46: Repeat Rows 3, 4 alternating.  

COLOR B:
Row 47: K1, kfb, knit to end, Turn.
Row 48:  K1, purl to last st, k1, Turn.
Row 49:  SL 1st st, Kfb, k to end, Turn.
Rows 50-52: Repeat Rows 48, 49 – ending on a R 48 

COLOR A:
Rows 53-66: Repeat Rows 3, 4 alternating.

DROP STITCH SECTION ONE:

COLOR C:
Row 67:  K1, kfb, knit to end, Turn.
Row 68:  K1, *yo, p1*, Repeat * to * across to last st, K1, Turn.
Row 69:  SL 1st st, k2, * drop yo off needle, K1*, Repeat * to * across to last st, k1, Turn.
Row 70: Knit, Turn.
Row 71:  SL 1st st, Kfb, k to end, Turn.
Rows 72 - 73: Repeat Rows 68, 69

DROP SECTION COMPLETE.

COLOR A:
Row 74:  K1, purl to last st, k1, Turn.
Rows 75 - 90: Repeat Rows 3, 4 alternating.  

COLOR B:
Row 91:  K1, kfb, knit to end, Turn
Row 92: K1, purl to last st, k1, Turn.
Rows 93- 98: Repeat Rows 48, 49 

COLOR A:
Row 99  K1, k1fb,  knit to last st 2 sts, kfc, k1, Turn.
Row 100: Repeat Row 4  
Rows 101-119: Repeat Rows 3, 4 alternating.    

DROP SECTION TWO:

COLOR C:
Row 120:  K1, purl to last st, k1, Turn.
Row 121:  SL 1st st, kfb, *yo, k1*, Repeat * to * across to last st, K1, Turn.
Row 122:  k1, * drop yo off needle, p1*, Repeat * to * across to last 3 sts, k3, Turn.
Row 123:  SL 1st st, Kfb, k to end, Turn.
Row 124:  Knit, Turn.
Row 125:  SL 1st st, kfb, *yo, k1*, Repeat * to * across to last st, K1, Turn.
Row 126:  k1, * drop yo off needle, k1*, Repeat * to * across to last 3 sts, k3, Turn
Row 127:  SL 1st st, Kfb, k to end, Turn.
Row 128:  Knit, Turn.
Row 129:  SL 1st st, *yo, k1*, Repeat * to * across to last st, K1, Turn.
Row 130:  k1, * drop yo off needle, p1*, Repeat * to * across to last st, k1, Turn.
Row 131:  SL 1st st, k to end, Turn.
Row 132:  Knit, Turn.
Row 133:  Repeat R 129
Row 134:  Repeat R 130
Rows 135 – 138: Repeat Rows 131, 132 
Rows 139 – 148:  Repeat Rows 129 - 138
Rows 149 – 158:  Repeat Rows 129 - 138
Rows 159 – 168:  Repeat Rows 129 - 138
Rows 169 – 178:  Repeat Rows 129 - 138

Begin Decrease side:
Row 179:  SL 1st st, k2tog, *yo, k1*, Repeat * to * across to last st, K1, Turn
Row 180:  k1, * drop yo off needle, p1*, Repeat * to * across to last st, k1, Turn.
Row 181:  SL 1st st, k2tog, k to end, Turn.
Row 182:  Knit, Turn.
Row 183:  SL 1st st, k2tog, k to end, Turn.
Row 184:  k1, *yo, p1*, Repeat * to * across to last 3 sts, p2tog, k1, Turn.
Row 185:  SL 1st st, * drop yo off needle, k1*, Repeat * to * across to last st, k1, Turn.

DROP SECTION COMPLETE.

COLOR A:
Row 186:  K1, purl to last st, k1, Turn.
Row 187:  SL 1st st, k2tog, k to end, Turn.
Row 188:  Knit, Turn.
Rows 189-206: Repeat Rows 187, 188 alternating.

COLOR B:
Row 207: SL 1st st, k2tog, k to end, Turn.
Row 208:  K1, purl to last st, k1, Turn.
Rows 209 - 214: Repeat Rows 207, 208 alternating

COLOR A:
Row 215:  SL 1st st, k2tog, k to end, Turn.
Row 216:  Knit, Turn.
Rows 217 - 230: Repeat Rows 215, 216 alternating

DROP SECTION THREE

COLOR C:
Row 231:  SL 1st st, k2tog, *yo, k1*, Repeat * to * across to last st, K1, Turn
Row 232:  k1, * drop yo off needle, p1*, Repeat * to * across to last st, k1, Turn.
Row 233:  SL 1st st, k2tog, k to end, Turn.
Row 234:  K1, purl to last st, k1, Turn.
Row 235 – 236:  Repeat Rows 231, 232
Row 237:  SL 1st st, k2tog, k to end, Turn

DROP SECTION COMPLETE.

COLOR A:
Row 238:  K1, purl to last st, k1, Turn.
Row 239:  SL 1st st, k2tog, k to end, Turn.
Row 240:  Knit, Turn.
Rows 237 - 251: Repeat Rows 239, 240 alternating.  

COLOR B:
Row 252:  K1, purl to last st, k1, Turn.
Row 253: SL 1st st, k2tog, k to end, Turn.
Rows 254 - 257: Repeat Rows 252, 253 alternating  

COLOR A:
Row 258:  Knit, Turn.
Row 259:  SL 1st st, k2tog, k to end, Turn.
Row 260- 304:  Repeat Rows 258, 259 alternating

Weave in all ends 
Don’t forget to block your shawl. See my video on blocking and blocking tips here.