Mercury In Retrograde is an original lace shawl design, knit from the center top down to the bottom edges of the triangle.

There are 2 pdf versions of the pattern available to download:
CHARTEDMIR1.pdf is fully charted, with some additional written instructions.
WRITTENMIR1.pdf is completely written, no charts.
Only work from one pdf or the other.
Stitch counts are included in both.

ETA This is not a true lace, as patterning is only on RS rows. WS rows are rest rows:
When coming across multiple yarnovers, which isn’t every WS row, (p1, k1) etc into them. No reading or charting to have to pay attention to. The last 4 rows will need more attention, but this pattern is easy to remember and easier than it may look!

As shown, Mercury In Retrograde uses one skein of Northbound Knitting fingering weight yarn, but is easily made larger/smaller by working more/less repeats of the 8-row pattern repeat as instructed (additional yarn will be necessary). At gauge, each additional repeat will add about 2”/5cm in center length and 4”/10cm in top width to your shawl.

The size of your shawl can also be increased by changing needle/yarn size. Using a needle at least 2-3 sizes larger than what is suggested for your yarn of choice will give your lace room to expand. The larger needle you use, the lacier the effect after blocking.

The sample used 99 grams of one 100g/400yd/366m skein of Northbound Knitting Merino Fingering Singles yarn in Nocturne. I used about half of a second skein to swatch with and as back up. I highly recommend having additional yarn on hand for swatching and sanity. I also HIGHLY recommend using this yarn to get the look and drape of the photographed sample. View my project page for details.

Materials used:
100g/400yds (366m) fingering weight yarn
US 7/4.5mm 32” circular needles (to hold large amount of stitches)
2 Stitch markers
Tapestry needle
Blocking supplies
Gauge: approx 16 stitches x 24 rows in 8-row pattern repeat = 4”/10cm after blocking.
Finished Measurements: approximately 30 x 64” (76 x 163cm) relaxed after blocking

Thanks to Lisa Mutch @NBKnitting for dyeing such beautiful, inspirational yarn.