Mariner Shawl Wrap Knitting Pattern

Mariner Shawl in Rowan Brushed Fleece

What is Being Made

The Mariner Shawl is a long, elegant knitted wrap designed as an intermediate-level project. This shawl measures approximately 230cm (90½ inches) in length and 36cm (14¼ inches) in width, making it a generous accessory suitable for draping around the shoulders or wearing as a lightweight wrap. The design combines classic rib stitch with a striking cable panel feature, creating visual interest along the center of the piece.

Techniques Used

This knitting project employs several fundamental techniques appropriate for intermediate knitters. The primary construction method involves working in the round using flat needles with consistent stitch patterns. A key technique featured in this design is cable work, which creates the dimensional, twisted texture characteristic of cable knit patterns. The shawl utilizes stranding techniques for managing multiple colors or yarn weights, though the main construction focuses on single-color work with textural variation through stitch manipulation.

The cable panel requires the use of a cable needle to temporarily hold stitches while creating the twisted effect. Knitters must understand how to slip stitches onto a cable needle, hold them at the front of the work, and then knit across before returning to the held stitches. This creates the characteristic braided or twisted appearance of cable knit fabric.

Stitches Used

The Mariner Shawl is constructed primarily using two stitch patterns that work together:

• Rib Stitch: A fundamental knitting pattern alternating knit and purl stitches (K2, P2 repeat) that creates vertical columns of texture. This stitch is elastic and provides structure, making it ideal for the edges and sections of the shawl.
• Cable Panel: A specialized 30-stitch pattern that creates the dramatic centerpiece of the design. The cable panel involves slipping stitches onto a cable needle, working a sequence of knit and purl stitches, and then working the held stitches in a specific order to create the twisted cable effect.

The pattern instructions specify that the cable panel uses a combination of knit (K) and purl (P) stitches arranged as (P2, K2) repeats within the cable structure, creating a textured, dimensional effect that contrasts with the simpler rib sections.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Mariner Shawl is worked using Rowan Brushed Fleece yarn, a soft and luxurious fiber. The pattern calls for 9 balls of 50-gram weight, providing approximately 450 grams of yarn total. The photographed sample is shown in the colorway Coralline 284, though the pattern can be worked in any available Rowan Brushed Fleece color.

Needles required include one pair of 6mm (US size 10) straight needles for the main construction, plus an additional cable needle for managing the cable panel stitches. The pattern specifies a tension of 22 stitches and 19 rows to 10 centimeters (4 inches) when working the rib and cable pattern stitch on 6mm needles, which is essential for achieving the correct finished dimensions.

The shawl is cast on with 78 stitches and worked lengthwise, with the cable panel positioned at the center of the width. After completing the initial rib section, the cable panel is introduced and the pattern repeats until the desired length is achieved, finishing with a loose cast-off in rib stitch to maintain elasticity at the edge.