Koigu Decalcomania Shawl Wrap Knitting Pattern

Koigu Decalcomania Shawl

What is Being Made

The Koigu Decalcomania Shawl is a two-color brioche knit wrap designed by Unjung Yun. This is a substantial accessory piece with finished measurements of 22.5 inches (57 cm) wide by 71.5 inches (182 cm) long, making it suitable for draping as a shawl or wrap. The design features a sophisticated interplay between two coordinating Koigu yarn colors worked in a seamless, flat construction.

Techniques Used

This shawl employs several advanced knitting techniques that create visual interest and structural sophistication:

• Bottom-up construction: The shawl is worked from the cast-on edge upward, allowing the knitter to monitor the developing pattern and adjust as needed
• Seamless, worked flat: The piece is created on needles without seaming, maintaining clean edges and a professional finish throughout
• Two-color Italian cast-on: The foundation uses a specialized cast-on method that creates a refined, elastic edge suitable for wraps
• Italian bind-off: The finishing edge employs a corresponding bind-off technique for a polished, matching conclusion
• Brioche knitting: The primary stitch pattern uses brioche techniques, which create a distinctive textured, reversible fabric with excellent drape and elasticity

Stitches Used

The Decalcomania Shawl incorporates specialized brioche stitches and supporting techniques:

• Brioche knit (Brk): Knitting together a slipped stitch from the previous row with its yarn over, creating the characteristic brioche texture
• Brioche purl (Brp): Purling together a slipped stitch from the previous row with its yarn over, used on alternating color sides
• Slip 1, yarn over (Sl1yo): Slipping a stitch purl-wise while bringing the yarn over the needle to the back, positioning it for the following brioche stitch
• Yarn over (yo): Creating new stitches for shaping and lace elements within the brioche structure
• Brioche right-slant decrease (BrRsl dec) and brioche left-slant decrease (BrLsl dec): Decreases that maintain the brioche pattern while shaping the fabric
• Four-stitch increase (Br4st inc): Executed as [brk 1, yo] twice, brk 1 into a single stitch, creating deliberate increases within the pattern
• Knit (K) and purl (P) stitches: Basic stitches used in setup rows and edge stitches to anchor the brioche pattern

Materials

The Koigu Decalcomania Shawl requires two coordinating yarns from Koigu's premium collection:

• Koigu KPPPM in Color #721 (Y1): Eight skeins of this yarn form one color component of the two-color brioche pattern
• Koigu KPM in Color #4000 (Y2): Eight skeins of this yarn provide the contrasting color in the brioche construction
• Needles: One set of US 6/4.0 mm double-pointed needles or circular needles, sized to achieve the specified gauge
• Notions: A tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Gauge and Pattern Notes

The shawl is worked to a gauge of 29 stitches and 25 rows (2 worked rows = 1 counted row) over 4 inches (10 cm) in brioche pattern using US 6/4.0 mm needles. The cast-on begins with 163 stitches, which is a multiple of 32 stitches plus 3, providing the foundation for the repeating brioche motifs. The pattern is worked across both sides of the needle using alternating yarn colors and brioche techniques, creating a reversible, textured fabric with excellent elasticity and drape suitable for a generous wrap.