Malabrigo Willowdell Scarf Knitting Pattern

Malabrigo Willowdell Lace Shawlette

What Is Being Made

The Malabrigo Willowdell is a lace shawlette designed by Wei Wilkins, featured in Malabrigo Book 8: In Central Park. This is an elegant triangular shawlette worked flat from the top down, measuring 15 inches in length down the center point and 43 inches across the bound-off edge. The finished piece combines delicate lace patterning with cable details to create a sophisticated accessory suitable for layering or wearing as a decorative wrap.

Techniques Used

This knitting project employs multiple advanced techniques that make it suitable for experienced knitters. The primary construction method involves working flat on circular needles, which allows for easier handling of the increasing stitch count as the shawlette expands. Lace techniques form the foundation of the design, creating openwork patterns throughout the piece. Cable work is incorporated into the stitch pattern, adding textural interest and dimension to the lace foundation. Increases are strategically placed at both edges and within every row of the pattern, allowing the triangular shawlette to grow progressively larger as you work from cast-on to bind-off.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The pattern features a charted lace design that repeats across the width of the shawlette. A specialized cable stitch, the 6-stitch Left Purl Cable (6-st LPC), is used throughout the pattern. This stitch is worked by slipping 3 stitches to a cable needle and holding it to the front of the work, purling the next 3 stitches, then purling the 3 stitches from the cable needle. The main pattern consists of a 24-row repeat that is worked four times in full, followed by a partial repeat of the first 9 rows. A 16-stitch repeat section is worked twice during the pattern progression. The shawlette begins with a candy lace chart and concludes with 3 rows of garter stitch knitting before the bind-off row, which uses a standard knit and pass-slipped-stitch bind-off method.

Materials

This project uses Sock by Malabrigo yarn, a superwash merino wool blend. You will need one 3½-ounce hank containing approximately 440 yards (402 meters) of yarn. The color used in the pattern is #859 Primavera. Needles required include Size 3 (3.25mm) circular needles measuring 40 inches (100 centimeters) long, or the size needed to obtain the correct gauge. Additional notions include a cable needle for working the cable stitches and cardboard for constructing the finishing tassel.

Gauge and Finishing

The pattern is worked to a gauge of 30 stitches and 38 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) in lace pattern using Size 3 needles. Checking gauge before beginning is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements. The shawlette is finished with a decorative tassel created by wrapping yarn around a 5-inch piece of cardboard 50 times, securing it with a tied strand, and attaching it to the cast-on edge of the shawlette.