Freia Fine Handpaints Antheraea Wrap Knitting Pattern

Freia Fine Handpaints Antheraea Shawl

What Is Being Made

The Antheraea Shawl is a delicately arched short row mitered shawl designed by Heidi Schultz. This top-down, flat-worked knit shawl features elegant geometric construction with centered decreases and yarn-over increases that create a distinctive mitered pattern. The shawl is available in two sizing options: a single-ball version with approximately 36 inch wingspan and 21 inch depth, or a two-ball version with approximately 48 inch wingspan and 28 inch depth. The finished shawl grows approximately 20% after blocking, allowing for aggressive blocking to prevent edge curling.

Techniques Used

This shawl employs several key knitting techniques to achieve its architectural design:

• Top-down construction: The shawl is knit from the top down, allowing knitters to customize the final size by working until yarn runs out
• Short rows: Strategic short rows create the delicate arched shaping characteristic of the design
• Mitered decreases: Centered double decreases (s2kp2) are used throughout to create the geometric mitered effect
• Yarn-over increases: Yarn overs paired with the decreases create lace-like openwork and maintain stitch count in strategic areas
• Flat knitting: The shawl is worked flat on circular needles rather than in the round, making it accessible to knitters of various skill levels
• Blocking: The pattern specifically notes that the shawl should be blocked aggressively to achieve its final dimensions and prevent edge curling

Stitches Used

The Antheraea Shawl utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined in a structured pattern:

• Knit stitch (K): The primary stitch forming the fabric base
• Purl stitch (P): Used in specific rows for texture and construction
• Yarn over (YO): Creates new stitches and contributes to the lace pattern
• Centered double decrease (s2kp2): Slip two stitches together, knit one, pass two slipped stitches over—this decrease is central to the mitered shaping
• Slip stitch (Sl): Used at edges and in decrease sequences
• Ssk (slip, slip, knit): A left-leaning decrease used in the pattern
• K2tog: A right-leaning decrease

Materials

Yarn: Freia Fine Handpaint Ombré Merino Fingering Shawl Ball, 100 grams per ball with 430 yards per ball. The pattern is shown in three colorways: Woodsman (one ball version), Vintage (two ball version), and Krypton (one ball version). The yarn's ombré hand-painted effect allows knitters to create extended color gradations, especially when alternating between two balls in the larger version.

Needles and notions: US Size 4 / 3.5mm circular needles, 36 inches long or longer, to obtain the specified gauge of 6 stitches per inch unblocked. The pattern requires 12 stitch markers to track the mitered decrease lines; split ring markers are recommended for easier tracking, particularly in the initial rows. A needle for weaving in ends completes the notions list.

Design Details

This shawl design, created by Heidi Schultz in collaboration with Knitwhits in 2015, showcases thoughtful construction choices. The looser-than-typical gauge for fingering weight yarn is intentional, allowing for aggressive blocking that prevents edge curling while achieving the final dimensions. Knitters working the two-ball version have creative flexibility: they may alternate between balls to extend the ombré color effect across the entire shawl, or work with one ball at a time to repeat the ombré pattern. The mitered construction with its centered decreases and strategic yarn overs creates a sophisticated geometric aesthetic suitable for both everyday wear and special occasions.