Noro Iliana Wrap Knitting Pattern

Noro Iliana Knitted Shawl

What Is Being Made

The Noro Iliana is an intermediate-level knitted shawl designed as a triangular wrap. This seamless, flat-worked design features finished measurements of approximately 50 inches (127 centimeters) across the top edge and 25 inches (63.5 centimeters) in depth from the top edge to the point, making it a generous accessory suitable for layering or wrapping.

Techniques Used

This shawl employs lace knitting and seamless construction as its primary techniques. The garment is worked flat on circular needles, which accommodate the increasing number of stitches as the shawl expands from the cast-on edge. The design incorporates strategic decreasing at the end of wrong-side rows only, creating the triangular silhouette. The lace pattern features a lattice stitch that alternates yarn overs and decreases to create openwork texture throughout the piece.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The Noro Iliana uses several key stitches and techniques:

• Moss Stitch — A textured stitch created by alternating knit and purl stitches across odd-numbered stitch counts. Rows 1 and 3 establish the pattern with knit-purl-knit sequences, while rows 2 and 4 maintain the established texture by knitting the knit stitches and purling the purl stitches. This four-row repeat creates a dense, bumpy fabric.
• Yarn Over (YO) — A fundamental lace technique that creates new stitches and decorative holes by placing yarn over the right-hand needle, essential for the lattice lace pattern.
• Right Twist (RT) — A twisted stitch created by knitting into the second stitch in front of the first stitch, then knitting the first stitch, adding subtle texture and visual interest.
• Decrease Stitches — The pattern employs K2tog (knit two stitches together), SKP (slip 1, knit 1, pass slip stitch over), and S2KP (slip 2 stitches together knitwise, knit 1, pass slip stitches over) to shape the shawl and create balanced lace decreases.

Lace Pattern Structure

The lattice stitch pattern repeats the sequence [K2tog] twice, [yo] twice, [SKP] twice across rows, creating a balanced openwork design where decreases are paired with yarn overs. This creates the characteristic lace fabric with geometric patterning throughout the shawl.

Materials

The Noro Iliana is worked using 1 ball of Noro Akari yarn in colorway #25, weighing 200 grams. The pattern calls for a US 8 (5 millimeter) circular needle measuring 32 inches (80 centimeters) or longer, or a needle size adjusted to obtain the correct gauge. A removable stitch marker is also recommended for tracking pattern repeats.

Gauge

The pattern specifies a gauge of 19 stitches and 30 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) in moss stitch using the US 8 (5 millimeter) needle. Checking gauge before beginning is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements.

Construction Details

The shawl begins with a cast-on of 152 stitches and is constructed entirely flat without joining rounds. The triangular shape is achieved through decreasing at the end of wrong-side rows only, gradually reducing the stitch count while the lace pattern creates visual depth and texture. The use of a circular needle accommodates the large number of stitches required for the wide top edge.