Rowan Pheonix Shawl Wrap Knitting Pattern

Rowan Phoenix Shawl by Lisa Richardson

What is Being Made

The Phoenix Shawl is a seamless knitted wrap designed as a triangular shawl with generous dimensions. The completed shawl measures approximately 47 centimeters (18.5 inches) wide at its widest point and 170 centimeters (67 inches) long along the straight edge, making it a substantial accessory suitable for draping across the shoulders or wearing as a wrap.

Construction Method

This shawl is worked flat from a single cast-on stitch, increasing progressively to create the triangular silhouette. The piece begins with a small number of stitches that expand through strategic increases worked at the beginning of right-side rows only. The shawl features a seamless construction with increases and decreases positioned inside a three-stitch garter stitch border on one edge, while the opposite edge remains straight with no shaping.

Techniques Used

• Stranded colorwork: The shawl incorporates Fair Isle patterning, a traditional stranded technique where multiple yarn colors are carried across the row to create intricate designs
• Striping: Color changes are integrated throughout the pattern repeat
• Seamless construction: The entire shawl is worked in one piece without requiring seaming
• Worked flat: The shawl is knitted back and forth on straight needles rather than in the round
• Garter stitch edging: A three-stitch garter stitch border frames the shawl edges for a finished appearance

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

• Garter stitch: Used for the three-stitch borders on each side of every row and for the initial cast-on rows, creating a textured, reversible edge
• Stockinette stitch: Forms the base fabric for the Fair Isle chart pattern, worked as knit on right-side rows and purl on wrong-side rows
• Make 1 (M1) increase: Worked in the color indicated on the chart to create new stitches while maintaining the colorwork pattern
• Knit 2 together (K2tog) decrease: Used to shape the shawl as the pattern transitions from increases to decreases
• Knit front and back (kfb): Used in the initial rows to establish the foundation stitches
• Fair Isle chart pattern: A 6-stitch and 36-row repeat (with rows 11–46 repeated throughout) that creates the decorative colorwork design

Materials

Yarn: The shawl is knitted using Rowan Felted Tweed yarn, a wool-based fiber available in 50-gram balls. Three colors are required:

• Chestnut 024 (2 balls)
• Chartreuse 028 (2 balls)
• Amethyst 026 (2 balls)

Needles: One pair of 4 millimeter (US size 6) straight needles is required for this project.

Gauge and Finished Dimensions

The pattern is designed to achieve a tension of 25 stitches and 26 rows over 10 centimeters when measured over the Fair Isle chart pattern using 4 millimeter needles. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for the shawl to reach its intended finished dimensions.

Pattern Notes

The Fair Isle chart is worked in stockinette stitch and consists of a 6-stitch pattern repeat that spans 36 rows, with only rows 11 through 46 being repeated throughout the body of the shawl. The three stitches on each side of every row are consistently worked in garter stitch using yarn A (Chestnut), creating a unified frame for the colorwork. Increases are worked as Make 1 stitches in the color indicated by the chart, while decreases are executed as knit 2 together stitches. This thoughtful construction ensures that the shawl maintains structural integrity while the colorwork pattern remains visually cohesive throughout the piece.