Cascade Yarns FW Leafy Transitions Wrap Knitting Pattern

Cascade Yarns FW Leafy Transitions Knitted Shawl

What is Being Made

The Cascade Yarns FW Leafy Transitions is a fingering-weight knitted shawl designed by Michael Harrigan. This intermediate-level project creates a finished wrap measuring 17 inches from top to bottom and 60 inches wide after blocking. The shawl is worked as a flat, seamless piece using a bottom-up construction method, making it an ideal project for knitters looking to expand their lace-working skills.

Construction and Techniques

This shawl employs several advanced knitting techniques to create visual interest and drape. The primary construction method is bottom-up, meaning you begin at the widest point and work upward toward the top edge. The piece is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, which simplifies stitch management for lace patterns.

The design features lace as a central design element, incorporating delicate yarn-over decreases that create openwork patterns throughout. Stripes are integrated into the design through the use of two distinct yarn colors that transition across the shawl, creating visual depth and interest. The construction is seamless, eliminating the need for seaming and ensuring a polished, professional finish.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Leafy Transitions shawl utilizes several specialized stitch patterns to achieve its distinctive appearance:

• Overlapping Leaves Lace Stitch Pattern: The primary stitch pattern features a 15-stitch multiple with a 16-row repeat. This pattern incorporates yarn overs (YO) paired with decreases such as SSK (slip, slip, knit) and SK2P (slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over) to create the characteristic leaf-like openwork. The pattern alternates knit and purl stitches strategically to define the leaf shapes.
• Right Edge Stitch Pattern: A specialized 20-stitch pattern worked over a 4-row repeat that frames the right side of the shawl. This pattern combines lace elements with reverse stockinette (purl) stitches to create a finished edge.
• Left Edge Stitch Pattern: A complementary 20-stitch pattern, also on a 4-row repeat, that mirrors the right edge pattern to create balanced framing on the left side of the shawl.
• Core Stitches: The pattern employs fundamental knitting stitches including knit (K), purl (P), knit 2 together (K2tog), knit 3 together (K3tog), and SSK decreases. Yarn overs (YO) are used throughout to create the lace openings that define the leaf motifs.

Materials and Gauge

The Cascade Yarns FW Leafy Transitions is designed to be worked in Cascade 220® Fingering, a fingering-weight yarn composed of 100% Peruvian Highland Wool. The project requires 4 skeins total: 2 skeins in color #8903 (Primavera) for Color A and 2 skeins in color #9430 (Highland Green) for Color B. Each skein contains 50 grams (1.75 ounces) and yields 273 yards (250 meters), providing ample yardage for the complete shawl.

The pattern is worked on US 3 (3.25 mm) knitting needles, or whatever needle size is required to achieve the specified gauge. The recommended gauge is 28 stitches by 32 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) when measured in the Overlapping Leaves Lace Stitch Pattern after blocking. Additional materials include 2 stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and a yarn needle for weaving in ends.

Skill Level and Blocking

This pattern is rated at intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with solid foundational skills who are ready to tackle lace patterns. The finished measurements of 17 inches by 60 inches are achieved after blocking, which is essential for opening up the lace stitches and allowing the leaf patterns to fully display their delicate structure. Blocking also helps even out the stripes and ensures the shawl drapes beautifully.