Rust Shawl Wrap Knitting Pattern

Rust Shawl in Rowan Kidsilk Haze

What is Being Made

The Rust Shawl is a luxurious knitted wrap designed by Sharon Miller. This advanced beginner project creates a finished scarf measuring 226 cm (89 inches) long and 43 cm (17 inches) wide, making it a generous accessory suitable for draping and layering. The design combines rich, warm colorways to create visual depth and texture.

Yarn Materials

This project uses Rowan Kidsilk Haze, a premium yarn blend known for its delicate drape and subtle sheen. The color palette includes:

• Yarn A: Bark 674 – 2 x 25gm
• Yarn B: Liqueur 595 – 2 x 25gm
• Yarn C: Scarlett 715 – 2 x 25gm
• Yarn D: Drab 611 – 1 x 25gm
• Yarn E: Cream 634 – 1 x 25gm

The combination of these five coordinated shades creates a sophisticated rust-toned colorway that develops through strategic color changes throughout the pattern.

Needles and Equipment

This project requires a 5mm (US 8) circular needle measuring at least 150 cm long. The long circular needle is essential for accommodating the initial cast-on of 543 stitches. For the cast-on edge specifically, knitters may benefit from using needles two sizes larger to ensure a loose, elastic foundation edge.

Knitting Techniques

The Rust Shawl employs several intermediate to advanced knitting techniques that justify its advanced beginner classification:

Multi-Strand Colorwork: The pattern requires holding multiple yarn strands together simultaneously. Rows are worked with single strands and double strands in strategic combinations, creating visual texture and color blending. For example, Row 10 uses one strand each of yarns C and D held together, while other rows feature single yarn usage.

Yarn Over Increases: Yarn overs (abbreviated as "yrn") are used extensively throughout the pattern to create decorative holes and lacy elements. These increases add airiness to the fabric and contribute to the shawl's drape.

Decrease Techniques: The pattern incorporates both standard decreases (K2tog) and through-the-back-loop decreases (K2tog tbl), which slant stitches in opposite directions for visual interest. The pattern also features a more complex K15tog decrease, where fifteen stitches are knitted together as one, creating dramatic texture transitions.

Dropped Stitch Manipulation: Rows 11 and 23 involve deliberately dropping yarn overs from the previous row and then slipping stitches back onto the left needle. This technique creates elongated loops and textural variation. The pattern notes that when yarn is used double on the previous row, knitters must account for 30 loops (15 in each color) when slipping stitches back.

Stitch Variations: The pattern includes working (P1, K1, P1) into each double yarn over, creating picot-like details that add dimensional interest to the fabric.

Stitches Used

The Rust Shawl utilizes a focused set of fundamental stitches executed with advanced techniques:

• Knit Stitch (K): The primary stitch forming the base fabric
• Purl Stitch (P): Used selectively for texture and detail, particularly in the picot elements
• Yarn Over (yrn): Creates decorative increases and lace-like openings throughout the pattern
• Knit Two Together (K2tog): A right-leaning decrease used multiple times per pattern row
• Knit Two Together Through Back Loop (K2tog tbl): A left-leaning decrease for directional shaping
• Knit Fifteen Together (K15tog): A dramatic multiple-stitch decrease that creates bold texture transitions
• Slip Stitch (slip): Used to manipulate stitches and dropped loops without working them

Pattern Structure