The Boxing Day Bonus Shawl is a sideways knit garter & eyelet shawl intended to maximize the use of mini skeins, specifically an Advent Mini Skein collection! The shawl is worked with increases in garter stitch stripes up to the center panel. The triangles are formed with German Short rows, then you decrease in garter stripes to finish off. The result is a big, cozy shawl where the rows never get too long and you’re not dining off hundreds of stitches but you still get that polished edge with the mock i-cord effect I use in so many of my pattern. Best of all- the pattern includes links to video tutorials to guide you throughout.
Yarn
- 20 mini skeins of fingering weight yarn (smaller minis & leftovers can also be used). 100% wool or wool/nylon blend recommended
- The yarns used in my sample were a combination of leftovers from previous projects and mini skeins from indie dyers. Most are a 75% superwash merino/ 25% nylon blend, 463 yards/ 423 meters per 100 grams.
- Some of my favorite minis are https://www.lavenderluneyarn.co/ (“Autumn Feels” Minis – E, F, J, R, S) & https://www.etsy.com/shop/agirlandherwool/ (Various Seasonal Minis – B, D, H, L, O, Q).
- Yarn amounts used for each color used in sample:
- D, E & P – 16 grams (74 yards/ 68 meters)
- G & Q – 14 grams (65 yards/ 59 meters)
- C & R – 12 grams (56 yards/ 51 meters)
- A, B, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, S & T – 10 grams each (46 yards/ 42 meters)
- F – 9 grams (41 yards/ 38 meters)
- O – 7 grams (32 yards/ 29 meters)
- Total Yarn Used: 242 grams (1,117 yards/ 1,021 meters)
Needles
- US 7 (4.5 mm) circular needle or size needed to obtain gauge [24-inch (60 cm) total length is sufficient]
Gauge & Size
- 25 stitches over 4 in (10 cm) in garter
- 106 in (269 cm) wide across the top; 15 in (38 cm) deep at center
Notions
- 2 stitch markers + 16 locking stitch markers (15 to mark short rows in center panel; 1 to mark RS) Blocking Pins, Blocking Wires (optional), Tapestry Needle
Pattern Info
- This pattern has been tech edited & test knit.
- All instructions are written & include my checklist format.
About the Name
According to historians, on Descember 26th, called Boxing Day in many countries, aristocrats and lords put together Christmas boxes with small gifts, money and food to deliver to their servants who worked on Christmas Day. These “bonuses” were a recognition of the servant’s good service throughout the year.
In our knitting community, the yarn advent calendar has become a new tradition, with friends exchanging advent calendars or knitters saving their pennies to buy one from a favorite indie dyers. We delight in opening a mini skein each day until Christmas, and maybe a full skein on Christmas Day. This shawl pattern is your Boxing Day Bonus. A bit of extra cheer meant to give you the chance to have fun with your minis. Arrange and rearrange them until its suits you—or just pick one and cast on and enjoy the thrill of choosing as you go! This is designed to use 20 colors because, let’s face it, you may not like all 24 minis you’ve received. Keep in mind you don’t need to use an advent calendar at all. Any yarn in your stash will do!
