It has been quite a while since I knit anything due to other crafty endeavors, work, and life in general. Lately I have felt in the mood to pick up yarn and needles again, especially with the cooler weather. I wanted a project that didn't require too much thought, something I could work on while watching TV and something that didn't require keeping track of a stitch pattern. Garter stitch fit the bill, plus I really like garter stitch. I have wanted to knit a self fringing shawl since around the time I learned to knit, so that is what I decided I wanted to work on. I had a few false starts, but finally finished a nice, fringy shawl I am sharing with you below.
Usually, I prefer to work with natural fibers; for this project, I decided to go with 100% acrylic. With natural fibers, blocking is essential to open up the stitch pattern. Since I used garter stitch, I wasn't too worried about having to block to show off a stitch pattern. Plus I don't really have a good place to put down blocking mats to pin out my shawl. The yarn is machine wash/dry, but I chose to lightly steam it to straighten out the fringe and neaten up some of my uneven stitches a bit, and I also didn't want to tangle my fringe.
The shawl is worked side to side - cast on a few stitches and increase until the required number of stitches is reached, then decrease until only a few remain. Here you can see where the increase section turns to the decrease section. 
Once you have fastened off the body stitches, you just unravel the remaining stitches to create your fringe. 
In the Supplies list I mention a straight cable needle or DPN for knotting the fringe. This is completely optional and the purpose it to just help in getting the knot of the fringe close to the body of the shawl. A little trick I use when I finish sewing (repairing a small rip or tear in clothing) when I tie off the thread, I stick the needle into the loop of thread to help tie it as close to the fabric as possible. Once you've made the knot, before tightening, place the cable needle or DPN against the body of the shawl, then pull on the fringe and wiggle the knot down to the base of the shawl. Again, this is completely optional and you may find it more fiddly than necessary.
I weighed my skein of yarn without the ball band, and it was 11 oz. I used about 6 oz total. For the cast on and end tail, you can leave these a bit long so you can loop them to make a couple of extra fringes, or you can weave them in as you would normally weave in loose ends.
Supplies:
Yarn: Lion Brand Mandala Bonus Bundle (I used the Meowth colorway) or any #3 weight yarn (light worsted/DK)
Needles: US Size 10 circular - 24" or longer
Notions: stitch marker, yarn needle (for any loose ends you may have), scissors, straight cable needle or DPN (for knotting fringe, optional)
Gauge: 3 sts per inch on steam blocked fabric - not super important for this project
Finished Shawl Size:
Center to Tip: 28 inches, not including fringe
Fringe: about 3-1/2 inches long
Tip to Tip: 78 inches
Abbreviations:
sts = stitches
kfb = knit into the front of next stitch and knit into the back of next stitch
k2tog = knit next two stitches together
Cast on!
Cast on 6 sts
Increase Section:
Row 1: knit
Row 2: k1, kfb, place marker, k4
Row 3: knit all sts, slipping the marker when you get to it
Row 4: knit to 1 stitch before marker, kfb, slip marker, k4
Repeat Rows 3 and 4 until you have 100 body stitches - plus 4 fringe sts; you will want to have ended with Row 3.
Decrease Section:
Row 5: knit to 2 sts before marker, k2tog, slip marker, knit 4
Row 6: knit all sts, slipping the marker when you get to it
Repeat Rows 5 and 6 until 7 sts remain; you will want to have ended with Row 6.
Finishing:
Row 7: k1, k2tog, slip marker, k4 - 2 body sts remaining
Row 8: knit
Last Row: k2tog, remove marker. Cut yarn and pull tail through last worked stitch. Remove needle from the four remaining sts.
Fringe:
Unravel remaining four sts and knot. Cut if desired or leave as loops. Weave in any loose ends,
block as desired.
Here is a video showing the steps for knitting your shawl. Happy Knitting!
