Cascade Yarns DK Three Irises Shawl Wrap Knitting Pattern

Cascade Yarns DK Three Irises Shawl

What Is Being Made

The Cascade Yarns DK Three Irises Shawl is a knitted wrap accessory designed as a triangular shawl with a generous wingspan of 76 inches and a maximum depth of 36.5 inches at its deepest point. This one-size-fits-most shawl is worked flat on circular needles and features a sophisticated three-color striping pattern that showcases the interplay of Dull Gold, Silver Fern, and Pale Lavender hues throughout the construction.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several key techniques to create its elegant finished piece. The shawl is worked flat, meaning it is knitted back and forth on circular needles rather than in the round, making it accessible to knitters comfortable with traditional flat construction methods. The design incorporates lace work as a central design element, creating an openwork aesthetic that adds visual interest and drape to the finished garment. The shawl is constructed as a seamless piece, eliminating the need for seaming and resulting in a continuous, unified fabric. Stripes are worked throughout the pattern, alternating between the three yarn colors in a planned sequence that builds the visual complexity of the design.

Stitches Used

The Three Irises Shawl features a specialized lace stitch pattern that forms the foundation of the design. The primary stitch pattern, called the Three Irises Lace Stitch, is worked over a repeat of 8 stitches plus 1 edge stitch and spans 8 rows per complete repeat. This pattern combines fundamental knitting stitches in a coordinated sequence:

• Knit (K) stitches form the base structure
• Purl (P) stitches, used on wrong-side rows to create a smooth reverse
• Yarn Over (YO) stitches create the openwork eyelets characteristic of lace knitting
• Knit 2 Together (K2tog) decreases that pair with yarn overs for balanced lace shaping
• Slip, Slip, Knit (SSK) decreases that create left-leaning decreases, complementing the right-leaning K2tog decreases for symmetrical lace motifs
• Knit into Front and Back (K1fb) increases for shaping as needed

The lace pattern rows alternate with purl rows on the wrong side, allowing the knitter to focus on the complex stitch sequences on right-side rows while maintaining rhythm with simpler wrong-side construction.

Materials and Tools

This pattern calls for Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash Sport, a 100% Superwash Merino Wool yarn available in 50-gram skeins with 136 yards per skein. The three-color striping scheme requires a total of 10 skeins: 3 skeins of color #262 (Dull Gold—A), 3 skeins of color #318 (Silver Fern—B), and 4 skeins of color #221 (Pale Lavender—C). Knitters will need US 7 (4.5 mm) circular knitting needles in a 32-inch length, or the size necessary to achieve the specified gauge of 15.5 stitches and 27.5 rows per 4 inches when blocked in the Three Irises Lace Stitch Pattern. Additional supplies include a yarn needle for weaving in ends, optional stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and border stitches, and rustproof pins for the blocking process, which is essential for properly opening up the lace and achieving the finished measurements.