Rowan Birch Wrap Knitting Pattern

Rowan Birch Knitted Shawl

What is Being Made

Rowan Birch is a triangular knitted shawl designed by Sharon Miller. The completed shawl measures 203 cm (80 inches) wide and 102 cm (40 inches) long after pressing. This is a lace shawl that begins with a cast-on of 299 stitches and decreases progressively through the pattern until only 3 stitches remain, which are then bound off together. The shawl is available in two distinct versions: a stocking stitch version and a garter stitch version, offering knitters flexibility in texture and appearance.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting pattern employs several key techniques essential to lace shawl construction. The pattern begins with a lace cast-on method, which creates an elegant foundation edge suitable for shawl work. Throughout the pattern, yarn forward increases (yfwd) are used to create decorative eyelet holes characteristic of lace knitting. Decreases are worked using knit two together through the back loop (K2tog tbl) and slip, knit two together, pass slipped stitch over (sl 1, K2tog, psso) techniques, which create the shaping and lace details simultaneously. The pattern is repeated across rows with strategic decreases at the edges, reducing 10 stitches every 8 rows. Pressing and finishing techniques are important to this design—after completing the knitting, the shawl is pressed to measurements and, for the mohair versions, the pile is raised by gently rubbing the surface with another ball of yarn to enhance the fabric's texture.

Stitches Used

• Knit (K) – fundamental stitch used throughout the pattern
• Purl (P) – used in the stocking stitch version on wrong-side rows
• Knit two together through the back loop (K2tog tbl) – a left-leaning decrease used for shaping and lace details
• Knit two together (K2tog) – a right-leaning decrease
• Purl two together (P2tog) – used in the stocking stitch version for edge shaping
• Purl two together through the back loop (P2tog tbl) – used in the stocking stitch version for edge shaping
• Slip, knit two together, pass slipped stitch over (sl 1, K2tog, psso) – a centered double decrease creating lace details
• Yarn forward (yfwd) – creates eyelet holes and increases for the lace pattern
• Knit three together (K3tog) – used to bind off the final 3 stitches

Pattern Structure

The shawl pattern is worked over 8-row repeats that combine both lace motifs and decreasing shaping. Rows 1, 3, 5, and 7 contain the pattern repeats with yarn forwards and decreases that create the lace design. The wrong-side rows (rows 2, 4, 6, and 8) differ between the two versions: in the stocking stitch version, these rows are purled with edge decreases, while in the garter stitch version, these rows are knitted with edge decreases. Each 8-row repeat reduces the total stitch count by 10 stitches, gradually shaping the triangular shawl until completion.

Materials

The pattern calls for Rowan Kidsilk Haze yarn, with 3 balls of 25 grams required for both versions. The stocking stitch version is photographed in the colorway Majestic 589, while the garter stitch version is shown in the discontinued shade Dreamboat 587, with Bill 703 suggested as a replacement. Knitting is worked on 5mm (US 8) needles. The pattern specifies a tension of 20 stitches and 32 rows to 10 centimeters measured over the lace pattern using 5mm needles, which is essential for achieving the correct finished dimensions.