Boldweave In Rowan Kaffe Fassett Kidsilk Haze Knitting

Boldweave In Rowan Kaffe Fassett Kidsilk Haze Knitted Shawl

What Is Being Made

The Boldweave is a luxurious knitted stole designed as a large rectangular wrap. The finished piece measures 62 cm (24½ inches) wide and 201.5 cm (79¼ inches) long, making it an elegant accessory suitable for draping over shoulders or wearing as a generous shawl. This intermediate-level knitting project showcases the distinctive colorwork designs characteristic of Kaffe Fassett's celebrated aesthetic.

Techniques Used

This shawl employs the intarsia technique, a sophisticated colorwork method that involves using separate lengths of yarn for different colored sections within each row. Rather than carrying yarn across the back of the work, intarsia allows for bold, distinct color blocks and prevents the fabric from becoming thick or stiff. The pattern requires careful color changes and yarn management throughout the construction, making it suitable for knitters with intermediate experience who are comfortable working with multiple yarn colors simultaneously.

Stitches Used

The Boldweave is constructed primarily using stockinette stitch (abbreviated as st st), which creates a smooth, flat fabric with characteristic V-shaped columns on the right side and horizontal bumps on the reverse. The pattern incorporates both knit (K) and purl (P) stitches in specific sequences to build the intarsia colorwork design. Rows alternate between knit and purl rows in designated sections, with color changes occurring at precise stitch intervals to create the geometric boldweave pattern.

Materials

This project uses Rowan Kidsilk Haze, a luxurious yarn composed of a silk and kid mohair blend. Seven coordinating colors from the Kidsilk Haze range are required, each in 25-gram quantities:

• Yarn A: Violet (K0015) – 2 balls
• Yarn B: Lichen (K0016) – 1 ball
• Yarn C: Meringue (K0012) – 1 ball
• Yarn D: Celery (K0014) – 1 ball
• Yarn E: Blancmange (K0010) – 1 ball
• Yarn F: Tangerine (K0013) – 1 ball
• Yarn G: Petunia (K0011) – 1 ball

The pattern is worked on 5mm (US 8) needles, a size appropriate for the delicate Kidsilk Haze yarn. The recommended tension is 18 stitches and 23 rows to 10 centimeters when measured over stockinette stitch using the specified needle size, ensuring the finished stole achieves the correct dimensions and drape.

Construction Details

The stole begins with a cast-on of 112 stitches distributed across seven color sections: 16 stitches in yarn A, 16 stitches in yarn D, 16 stitches in yarn A, 16 stitches in yarn C, 16 stitches in yarn A, 16 stitches in yarn B, and 16 stitches in yarn A. This initial setup establishes the color block structure that continues throughout the piece. The pattern repeats in carefully orchestrated sequences, with rows grouped into sets that create the boldweave design. Multiple color combinations cycle through the work, with each section typically repeated 7 to 8 times before transitioning to the next color combination, building the substantial length of the finished stole through systematic repetition and color variation.