Cascade Yarns FW Asymmetrical Shawl with Knit-on Edging (Free)

Cascade Yarns FW Asymmetrical Shawl with Knit-on Edging

What Is Being Made

This is an asymmetrical triangular shawl designed by Michael Harrigan, featuring finished measurements of 56" x 46" x 39" after blocking. The shawl is constructed using a knit-on lace edging technique, making it an ideal accessory for adding elegance and warmth to any wardrobe. The asymmetrical design creates visual interest and modern appeal, while the three-color colorway adds depth and sophistication to the finished piece.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several key techniques that build essential knitting skills:

• Knit-on Edging: The shawl features a decorative lace edging that is worked directly onto the main body, creating a seamless integration of border and garment. This technique requires working the edging stitches while simultaneously joining them to the base stitches on the left needle.
• Lace Knitting: The pattern incorporates a 16-row lace repeat that uses yarn overs and decreases to create openwork sections, adding visual texture and reducing overall weight.
• Blocking: The finished shawl requires blocking to achieve the specified finished measurements and to fully open up the lace pattern for optimal drape and appearance.
• Color Work: The design uses three distinct colors of yarn strategically placed throughout the construction, creating a multi-tonal finished piece.

Stitches Used

The pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined with lace techniques:

• Garter Stitch: The base stitch used for the main body sections, created by knitting every row. This stitch provides structure and is used to establish the gauge of 20 stitches x 34 rows = 4" (10 cm) after blocking.
• Knit (K) and Purl (P) Stitches: Basic stitches that form the foundation of the pattern.
• Yarn Over (YO): Creates the decorative holes characteristic of lace knitting, adding openwork elements throughout the edging.
• Knit Two Together (K2tog): A right-leaning decrease used to shape the shawl and create lace pattern definition.
• Slip, Slip, Knit (SSK): A left-leaning decrease that provides directional variation in the lace pattern and helps maintain balanced shaping.

Materials

This project is worked with Cascade Yarns® 220 Superwash® Fingering, a premium yarn composed of 100% Superwash Merino Wool. The yarn is available in 50-gram skeins with 219 yards (200 meters) per skein, making it ideal for delicate, detailed knitting work. The pattern requires:

• Color A (Parsnip, color #71): 2 skeins
• Color B (Arctic Ice, color #55): 1 skein
• Color C (Blue Indigo, color #52): 1 skein
• US 4 (3.5mm) Knitting Needles: Or the appropriate size needed to achieve the specified gauge
• Yarn Needle: For weaving in ends upon completion

The Superwash Merino Wool fiber provides excellent elasticity, softness, and durability, while the fingering weight allows for intricate stitch definition in the lace edging. The superwash treatment makes the finished shawl easy to care for and maintain.