AMANO Sarapi Shawl Wrap Knitting Pattern

AMANO Sarapi Shawl

What is Being Made

The AMANO Sarapi Shawl is a knitted wrap designed by Martha Wissing for the Fall Winter 16/17 collection. This is a substantial triangular or crescent-shaped shawl worked from the bottom up, beginning with a lace pattern and expanding through strategic increases. The finished piece is created from a cast-on of 387 stitches, making it a generous accessory suitable for layering or wrapping.

Construction Method

The shawl is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, allowing the designer to create a shaped garment with directional stitch patterns. The construction begins with a long-tail cast-on and proceeds upward through multiple pattern sections. After completing the foundational lace pattern, the shawl transitions into a short-row shaping section that creates additional dimension and structure, allowing the piece to drape elegantly while maintaining its intended silhouette.

Lace Techniques and Stitch Patterns

The primary design element of the Sarapi Shawl is the Falling Leaves lace pattern, a sophisticated 24-row repeat that forms the visual foundation of the piece. This pattern combines multiple lace-working techniques to create an organic, botanical aesthetic.

• Yarn-overs (yo) create the characteristic openwork and lace holes throughout the pattern, allowing light to pass through the fabric and adding visual interest
• Double decreases using SK2P (slip 1 as if to purl, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over) and SKP (slip 1 as if to purl, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over) stitches balance the yarn-overs and create the directional lines that suggest falling leaves
• Purl stitches are strategically placed on wrong-side rows to define pattern sections and add textural contrast to the lace motifs
• Slipped stitches at the beginning of rows create neat, finished edges throughout the piece

The Falling Leaves pattern is a charted design that repeats across the width of the shawl, with increases built into the pattern repeat itself. This creates a self-expanding fabric where the lace motifs grow larger as the shawl expands, maintaining visual balance and proportion.

Short-Row Shaping

Following the main lace pattern section, the shawl employs short-row shaping to create three-dimensional structure. This advanced technique involves turning the work before completing a full row, then working back across a reduced number of stitches. The short rows are worked with strategic decreases (SSK and p2tog) that close the gaps created by turning, resulting in a smooth, integrated construction. This shaping method adds depth and allows the shawl to conform beautifully to the wearer's shoulders.

Materials and Tools

The Sarapi Shawl is designed to be worked with AMANO yarn, a premium fiber available through amanoyarns.com. The pattern requires straight needles appropriate to the yarn weight specified in the complete pattern instructions. The substantial stitch count and lace-work nature of this design suggests a fingering or sport-weight yarn would be suitable, though the exact yarn specifications should be confirmed in the full pattern documentation.

Pattern Complexity and Skill Level

This is an intermediate to advanced knitting project requiring familiarity with lace techniques, chart reading, and short-row shaping. Knitters should be comfortable with yarn-overs, double decreases, and the ability to troubleshoot lace patterns. The 24-row Falling Leaves pattern repeat demands attention to detail and pattern awareness, while the short-row section requires understanding of turning techniques and gap closure methods.