Cascade Yarns FW Triangular Shawl Wrap Knitting Pattern

Cascade Yarns FW Triangular Shawl

What Is Being Made

The Cascade Yarns FW Triangular Shawl is a lightweight, elegant wrap designed by Cheryl Beckerich. This triangular shawl measures 90 inches wide and 24 inches long at the center, making it a generous accessory suitable for layering or draping. The design creates a classic triangular silhouette that widens progressively from the bottom edge upward, offering versatile styling options for various occasions and seasons.

Knitting Techniques

This shawl employs several essential knitting techniques that work together to create its distinctive shape and drape:

• Bottom-Up Construction: The shawl is worked from the bottom edge upward, with strategic increases placed on each end of every row. This bottom-up approach allows the triangular shape to develop naturally as the width expands progressively.
• Seamless Knitting: The entire shawl is created as one continuous piece without seams, resulting in a smooth, unified fabric.
• Flat Knitting: The shawl is worked flat on circular needles rather than in the round, allowing for easy manipulation of the increasing stitches across the width.
• Lace Patterning: Decorative lace elements are incorporated throughout the design using yarn overs and decreases, creating openwork sections that add visual interest and contribute to the shawl's elegant drape.

Stitches Used

The pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined in structured sequences to build the lace design:

• Knit (k): The basic knit stitch forms the foundation of the fabric.
• Purl (p): Purl stitches are used on wrong-side rows to create texture and definition.
• Yarn Over (yo): This stitch creates the openwork characteristic of lace patterns by deliberately increasing stitches and forming decorative holes in the fabric.
• Knit 2 Together (k2tog): A right-leaning decrease that pairs with yarn overs to maintain stitch count and create lace motifs.
• Slip, Slip, Knit (ssk): A left-leaning decrease used on the left side of the shawl to balance the directional decreases on the right side.
• Slip Stitch (sl1): Used to move stitches without working them, often employed at edges for neater finishing.

The pattern is organized into three distinct stitch pattern sections: the Right Side Pattern (8 stitches), the Left Side Pattern (9 stitches), and the Center Pattern. These sections work in concert, with the side patterns creating symmetrical lace elements while the center section develops the main fabric. The pattern notes emphasize working the first and last 2 stitches of each row loosely to ensure consistent tension at the edges.

Materials and Tools

Yarn: The shawl is constructed using 4 skeins of Cascade Yarns Ultra Pima Fine, a 100% Pima cotton yarn. Each skein contains 136.7 yards (125 meters) and weighs 50 grams (1.75 ounces). Pima cotton is prized for its softness, strength, and breathability, making it an excellent choice for a lightweight shawl suitable for warm weather wear.

Needles: A US Size 6 (4mm) circular needle measuring 36 to 60 inches in length is required, or the size needed to achieve the specified gauge. The circular needle accommodates the increasing width of the shawl as it expands from bottom to top.

Additional Tools: A tapestry needle is needed for weaving in yarn ends upon completion.

Gauge and Finished Dimensions

The pattern specifies a gauge of 13.25 stitches and 29 rows over 4 inches when working the Center Pattern. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for obtaining the intended finished dimensions of 90 inches wide by 24 inches long at the center. The skill level is rated as Easy/Intermediate, making this pattern accessible to knitters with basic stitch knowledge who are ready to work with lace patterns and manage increasing stitches.