Cascade Yarns Color Shift Shawl Wrap Knitting Pattern

Cascade Yarns Color Shift Shawl

What Is Being Made

The Cascade Yarns Color Shift Shawl is a triangular wrap designed by Shannon Dunbabin, measuring approximately 52 inches wide by 24.5 inches long. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a beautiful shawlette that transitions through multiple colors as you progress through the pattern, making it an ideal accessory for layering or wearing as a lightweight wrap.

Construction Method

This shawl is worked bottom-up and seamless, meaning you begin at the cast-on edge and work toward the top without requiring any seaming. The design is worked flat using circular needles, which provide convenient stitch management rather than working in the round. The shawl features a center spine of 2 stitches that remains constant throughout, with increases occurring on either side of this center to create the triangular silhouette.

Techniques and Stitches

The pattern employs several key knitting techniques to create visual interest and texture:

• Lace elements are incorporated through yarn overs (YO) and decreases, creating openwork sections that add elegance and drape to the finished piece
• Garter stitch forms the foundation, created by knitting every row, providing a reversible, textured fabric
• Yarn overs (YO) serve dual purposes: creating lace holes and functioning as increases to shape the shawl
• Decreases including slip-slip-knit (SSK) and knit-2-together (K2tog) are used in the lace pattern rows to balance the yarn overs
• Striping is achieved through a unique color-shifting technique where one strand of yarn is changed at a time while holding two strands together, creating subtle color transitions rather than abrupt stripes

Pattern Structure

The shawl is constructed using two alternating pattern sequences:

• Pattern A consists of 2 rows repeated 7 times (14 rows total), featuring simple increases with yarn overs on both sides of the center marker
• Pattern B consists of 2 rows repeated 2 times (4 rows total), introducing lace elements through paired yarn overs and decreases that create openwork sections

These patterns are completed twice before introducing color changes, resulting in 40 rows from the cast-on edge in the first color combination. The color-shifting process then begins by cutting one strand and introducing a new color, with the pattern sequence repeated for each color transition.

Materials and Specifications

The shawl requires Cascade Yarns Cascade 220® Fingering, a yarn composed of 100% Peruvian Highland Wool. You will need 1 skein each of three colors: Color A in shade #9593 (Ginseng), Color B in shade #9332 (Sapphire), and Color C in shade #9594 (Orchid Haze). Each skein contains 50 grams (1.75 ounces) and yields 273 yards (250 meters).

The pattern calls for US 9 circular knitting needles and is worked with 2 strands of yarn held together throughout the project. Additional supplies include 2 stitch markers and a yarn needle for weaving in ends. The recommended gauge is 25 stitches by 36 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) when working double-stranded yarn in garter stitch.

Skill Level

Rated as intermediate, this pattern is suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are comfortable working with multiple stitches, managing stitch markers, and executing both increases and decreases. The color-shifting technique adds a creative element without significantly increasing difficulty, as the actual stitch work remains consistent throughout.