Quick, Simple Shawl

I am currently into knitting shawls. They offer such endless variety, square, triangle, circular, rectangular, and fodder for trying lots of knitting stitches and patterns. I like to use plain yarn for fancy stitches to show off the stitches. For funky yarn, I like to use big needles and very simple stitches to show off the yarn. The following is a very simple pattern for a triangular shawl and one I use a lot. It can have fringe or no, but remember, fringe takes a lot of yarn. I prefer mine plain.

Cast on 4 stitches, whatever method you like.
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: Knit 2, yarn over, Knit 2
Row 4 and all even rows, Knit 2, purl to the last 2 stitches, Knit 2
Row 5: Knit 2, yarn over, Knit 1, yarn over, Knit 2
Row 7: Knit 2, yarn over, knit 3, yarn over, Knit 2

Continue in this way until the top of the shawl is as wide as you would like it. Usually, your "wingspan" that is, from tip of your fingers with your arms out spread. The pattern will be a simple stockinette. This can be varied by using all garter stitch or another stitch pattern, just remembering to always yarn over (increase) every other row.

For funky yarn, I like to do shawls somewhat the same way, except I use large needles to give lots of space for the yarn to be shown off.  Here is what I like to do for those.

Cast on and work first 6 rows as above. Then,
Row 7: Knit 2, yarn over, Knit 2 together, yarn over, Knit 2 together, yarn over, Knit 1, yarn over, Knit 2
Row 8 and all even rows, Knit 2, purl to the last 2 stitches, Knit 2.
Continue in this way alternating the rows as 7 &8. The only difference will be is that more stitches will accumulate between the two ends. You will always start the odd row, Knit 2, yarn over, knit 2 together, yarn over etc, until you get to the last 3 stitches, then it will be Knit 1, yarn over, Knit 2. This makes a netting effect and really shows off funky yarn to the it's best advantage.

This way, you can have many shawls to wear for every occasion and if large needles are used (gauge really doesn't matter) they knit up very quickly. Varying the size of the needles used even with the same yarn, will give a different effect each time. The simplicity of the pattern also means that even beginners can be knitting and wearing their own shawls in a matter of a of a couple of days.