Mosaic Shawl Wrap Knitting Pattern

Mosaic Shawl in Rowan Felted Tweed

What is Being Made

The Mosaic Shawl is a rectangular wrap designed by Lisa Richardson, measuring approximately 25 cm (9¾ inches) in width by 200 cm (78¾ inches) in length. This intermediate-level knitting project creates an elegant accessory combining textured and lace sections using the slip-stitch mosaic technique with Rowan Felted Tweed yarn in a sophisticated three-color colorway.

Techniques Used

This shawl employs several advanced knitting techniques to create visual interest and texture:

• Mosaic Knitting: The primary technique uses slip stitches to create a two-color pattern effect without carrying yarn across rows, allowing for intricate colorwork with minimal complexity
• Slip-Stitch Colorwork: Stitches are slipped purlwise with yarn positioned at the back or front of work to build the mosaic pattern across multiple color repeats
• Lace Construction: Yarn-over increases paired with decrease stitches (p3tog and p2sso) create openwork sections that contrast with solid textured areas
• Garter Stitch: Used as the foundation stitch throughout, providing structure and a reversible fabric
• Decreases and Shaping: Strategic decreases including p3tog (purl three together) and p2sso (pass two slipped stitches over) shape the lace sections and control stitch count

Stitches Used

The Mosaic Shawl incorporates a focused selection of fundamental and intermediate stitches:

• Garter Stitch (K and P): The primary stitch throughout, creating horizontal ridges and texture
• Knit and Purl: Combined in alternating rows to build the base fabric
• Yarn Overs (yo): Double yarn overs create the openwork lace sections and are worked into stitches in subsequent rows
• Slip Stitches (sl): Slipped purlwise with yarn in front (wyif) or back (wyib) of work, forming the mosaic pattern
• Purl Three Together (p3tog): A three-stitch centered decrease used in lace pattern repeats
• Pass Two Slipped Stitches Over (p2sso): A double decrease that works with the p3tog to create lace motifs
• Knit Two Together (K2tog): A simple right-leaning decrease used for shaping transitions between sections

Materials and Tools

The Mosaic Shawl is worked in Rowan Felted Tweed, a wool-based yarn available in three coordinating shades for this design. The yarn quantities specified are 2 skeins each of Alabaster (shade 197) and Black (shade 211), plus 1 skein of Mineral (shade 181). Each skein weighs 50 grams. The project is worked on 4mm (US 6) needles, using both a standard pair of straight needles and a set of four double-pointed needles (dpns) for working the various sections. The tension is established at 28 stitches and 26 rows over 10 centimeters, measured over the combined garter stitch and fairisle pattern using 4mm needles.

Pattern Structure

The shawl is divided into distinct sections. Section A establishes the foundation with garter stitch borders and an eight-row textured mosaic pattern that repeats ten times, creating a substantial striped effect using the slip-stitch colorwork technique. Strategic decreases reduce the stitch count before transitioning to Section B. Section B introduces an eight-row lace pattern featuring yarn-over increases and centered decreases that repeat seven times, creating delicate openwork that contrasts with the solid texture of Section A. The chart notation indicates that each charted row represents two rows of actual knitting worked entirely in garter stitch, simplifying pattern reading for the crafter.