Rowan The City Shawl Wrap Knitting Pattern

Rowan The City Shawl by Georgia Farrell

What is Being Made

The City Shawl is an advanced-level triangular knitted shawl designed by Georgia Farrell for Rowan. The completed shawl measures approximately 182 cm (71½ inches) across the long edge and 83 cm (32¾ inches) deep at its widest point, making it a substantial wrap suitable for layering or draping. The pattern is available in two colorway options: a four-colour version and a two-colour version.

Techniques Used

This advanced knitting project employs several key techniques throughout its construction:

• Increases: The shawl uses make-one right (M1R) and make-one left (M1L) increases to create the triangular shape, with increases worked on alternating rows to build the garment from a small cast-on edge
• Marker placement: Stitch markers are used to denote the central spine of the shawl, helping to maintain pattern alignment as the piece expands
• Circular needle knitting: The shawl is worked on a circular needle despite being a flat piece, allowing for the large stitch count to be accommodated comfortably
• Colour changes: The pattern transitions from one yarn colour to another at a defined point, creating distinct sections within the design
• Yarn management: Working with multiple colours requires careful attention to tension and yarn handling to maintain consistent fabric quality

Stitches Used

The City Shawl combines several fundamental and decorative stitches to create visual interest and texture:

• Garter stitch (g st): Formed by knitting every row, garter stitch creates a textured, reversible fabric with horizontal ridges. The pattern begins with a garter stitch section worked over 70 rows (including the initial setup rows), establishing the foundation of the shawl
• Knit front and back (Kfb): Used in the initial cast-on rows to increase stitches and begin shaping the triangular form
• Purl stitch: Introduced in the block pattern section, purl stitches are worked in structured sequences (typically P1 followed by K7 repeats) to create a contrasting textured pattern against the knit stitches
• Block pattern: A combination of knit and purl stitches arranged in repeating blocks that create visual striping and dimensional texture across the shawl's surface

Materials: Yarn and Needles

Four Colour Version: This colourway uses Rowan Alpaca Classic yarn in four distinct shades:

• Yarn A: Willow 112 (1 x 25gm)
• Yarn B: Feather Grey Melange 101 (2 x 25gm)
• Yarn C: Hyacinth 129 (3 x 25gm)
• Yarn D: Green Moss 111 (3 x 25gm)

Two Colour Version: This alternative colourway uses Rowan Alpaca Classic in two complementary shades:

• Yarn A: Deep Teal 109 (4 x 25gm)
• Yarn B: Ice Blue 131 (6 x 25gm)

Needles: The pattern requires a 3¾mm (US 5) circular needle measuring at least 100cm in length. The circular needle accommodates the expanding stitch count as the triangular shawl grows, and the length ensures stitches are not crowded during knitting.

Tension and Finishing

The pattern specifies a tension of 23 stitches and 46 rows to 10 cm measured over garter stitch using 3¾mm (US 5) needles. The pattern notes that tensions vary over the four different stitch types used throughout the design, so knitters should be prepared for subtle variations in fabric density across the garter stitch, block pattern, and other textured sections. This is a characteristic feature of multi-stitch shawl designs and contributes to the visual complexity of the finished piece.