Louet Ironwood Wrap Knitting Pattern

Louet Ironwood Shawl: Lace Knitting Pattern

What is Being Made

The Louet Ironwood Shawl is a sophisticated half-hexagon shaped wrap designed as a layering piece. The finished shawl measures approximately 20 inches deep by 47 inches wide tip-to-tip, making it an elegant accessory for draping over shoulders or wearing as a decorative wrap. This downloadable knitting pattern is designed by Robin Melanson and combines refined construction with graceful linear design elements.

Techniques and Construction Methods

This shawl is worked flat on circular needles, beginning from the lower, longer edge and decreasing progressively toward the apex of the half-hexagon shape. The pattern employs lace knitting techniques throughout, creating visual interest and a lightweight, elegant drape. The construction features regular decreases occurring at six strategic points on the shawl—two decreases in each of three sections—which shape the garment as it's worked from bottom to top.

The shawl incorporates multiple lace pattern sections: an Arrowhead Lace edging that transitions into a cup pattern designed to fill the voids created by the decreases in the Arrowhead pattern. The main body of the shawl showcases eyelet columns set against a Stockinette Stitch background, creating a balanced aesthetic between textured lace elements and smooth fabric areas.

Stitches Used

• Knit (K): Fundamental stitch worked on the right side; purled on the wrong side
• Purl (P): Reverse stockinette element; purled on the right side and knitted on the wrong side
• Yarn Over (YO): Creates the openwork eyelets characteristic of lace knitting
• Knit 2 Together (K2tog): A right-leaning decrease used to shape the shawl
• Slip, Slip, Knit (SSK): A left-leaning decrease created by slipping one stitch knitwise twice, then inserting the left needle into the fronts of both stitches and knitting them together; results in 2 stitches decreased
• Slip Stitch (Sl): Stitches slipped knitwise as indicated in pattern instructions
• Yarn in Front (wyif): Yarn positioning technique used in specific pattern sections

Materials and Tools Required

The Louet Ironwood Shawl is knitted using GEMS 100% Superwash Merino Wool yarn in Fine/Sport Weight. The pattern requires 3 skeins of 100-gram weight, with each skein providing 225 yards (205 meters) of yardage. The superwash treatment makes this yarn easy to care for, allowing for machine washing and drying.

Essential tools include a 4 mm circular needle measuring 80 centimeters long or longer to accommodate the 375 cast-on stitches. Additional materials needed are stitch markers for tracking pattern sections and a tapestry needle for finishing. The pattern includes detailed charts and a complete abbreviation key to guide knitters through the lace sequences.

Gauge and Finishing

The recommended gauge is 21 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches in Stockinette Stitch. The pattern emphasizes the importance of obtaining correct gauge by machine washing and drying a gauge swatch (15 minutes on low heat) and laying it flat before measuring. Needle size should be adjusted if necessary to achieve the specified gauge, ensuring the finished shawl meets the intended dimensions and drape characteristics.