Cascade Yarns W th Inning Stretch Shawl Knitting Pattern

Cascade Yarns 7th Inning Stretch Shawl

What Is Being Made

The 7th Inning Stretch Shawl is an asymmetrical triangular shawl designed by Shannon Dunbabin. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a generous wrap measuring 88 inches in wingspan and 28 inches in height when blocked. The three side edges measure 88 inches, 66 inches, and 46 inches respectively after blocking, making it a versatile accessory suitable for layering or draping across the shoulders.

Techniques Used

This shawl employs several fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques to achieve its elegant drape and stretch. The construction incorporates yarn overs for creating decorative increases and lace elements throughout the design. Decreases using both knit two together (K2tog) and slip-slip-knit (SSK) methods are strategically placed to shape the asymmetrical triangle and maintain stitch balance. The pattern also uses slip stitches with yarn held in back and front positions to create clean edges. The shawl is worked from a cast-on edge and grows through directional increases, requiring knitters to manage stitch counts that expand as rows progress.

Stitches Used

• Garter Stitch: The foundational stitch used in the first section, created by knitting every row on both right and wrong sides. This section features increases worked every two rows to expand the shawl width.
• Lace Stitch Patterns: Multiple lace sections create openwork designs through strategic placement of yarn overs and decreases. These repeating motifs form the decorative body of the shawl and contribute to its elegant appearance and stretch.
• Knit and Purl: Basic knit stitches form the foundation, with purl stitches used selectively in the lace sections to create texture and definition.
• Yarn Overs (YO): Used throughout for both shaping increases and creating the lace pattern openings.
• Decreases (K2tog and SSK): These paired decreases balance the yarn overs and maintain stitch counts while shaping the asymmetrical form.

Materials and Tools

The 7th Inning Stretch Shawl is worked using two complementary Cascade Yarns products that create both visual interest and functional stretch. Yarn A is Cascade 220®, a 100% Peruvian Highland Wool available in 100-gram skeins with 220 yards per skein. Two skeins in color #9473 (Gris) provide the base yarn for this project. Yarn B is Cascade Yarns Melilla, a blend of silk, merino wool, and nylon in 100-gram skeins, also yielding 220 yards per skein. Two skeins in color #19 (Nebula) are used to add sheen and elasticity to the finished shawl.

The project requires US 9 (5.5 mm) knitting needles or the size needed to obtain proper gauge. The recommended gauge is 16 stitches and 24 rows per 4 inches (10 centimeters) when measured in garter stitch after blocking. A yarn needle is needed for weaving in ends upon completion.

Pattern Structure and Progression

The shawl is organized into distinct sections that progress from simple to more complex stitch patterns. The garter stitch section establishes the foundation with consistent increases every two rows, creating the initial triangular shape. The lace sections that follow introduce more intricate stitch combinations, with repeating motifs that expand across the width of the shawl. Each lace row features specific repeat patterns worked between edge stitches, allowing the shawl to grow while maintaining the asymmetrical triangle silhouette. The combination of garter stitch stability and lace openwork creates a shawl with both structure and drape.