Shawl Wrap Knitting Pattern

Shawl in Plymouth Yarn Linaza

What is Being Made

This is a triangular shawl designed for intermediate knitters using Plymouth Yarn's Linaza yarn. The finished shawl features a wingspan of 48 inches after blocking and a back length of 19 inches, making it an elegant wrap suitable for layering or draping across the shoulders.

Yarn and Materials

The shawl is crafted using Plymouth Yarn Linaza in the colorway Robin's Egg (color 1641). The project requires one 100-gram skein of yarn. Additional materials include US Size 6 (4mm) circular needles in a 24-inch length, two removable stitch markers, and a tapestry needle for finishing.

Gauge and Construction

The pattern is worked to a gauge of 22 stitches and 32 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch on US Size 6 needles after blocking. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the finished measurements specified in the design.

Knitting Techniques Used

This intermediate-level shawl employs several fundamental knitting techniques. The construction begins with a garter tab cast-on, a method that creates a reinforced edge by knitting several rows before picking up stitches along the side edges. The shawl body is then worked in the round using circular needles, with strategic yarn overs and decreases creating the triangular silhouette.

The pattern incorporates yarn over increases positioned at key points to shape the shawl, and slip-stitch decreases (ssk) to create decorative lace elements. Knitters can follow either written row-by-row instructions or a printed color chart, with specific guidance for reading chart rows from right to left on right-side rows and left to right on wrong-side rows.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The shawl features two primary stitch sections:

• Stockinette Stitch Section: The main body of the shawl is worked in stockinette stitch (knit on right-side rows, purl on wrong-side rows), which creates a smooth, classic fabric. This section is expanded through repeated yarn over increases on alternating rows, building the triangular shape over 27 repetitions of a two-row increase sequence.
• Lace Arches Pattern: An 8-row repeat stitch pattern featuring decorative lace elements. The pattern alternates between stockinette rows and lace rows that incorporate yarn overs and decreases (ssk and k2tog) to create openwork arches. The lace arches pattern works over a multiple of 8 stitches, allowing for elegant visual interest within the triangular construction.

Pattern Structure

The shawl begins with a small garter tab of 3 cast-on stitches, knitted for 7 rows to create a sturdy foundation. Stitches are then picked up along the edges of this tab to establish the working stitches. A set-up row establishes stitch markers that guide increases throughout the body. The stockinette section grows through systematic yarn overs positioned before and after the stitch markers, creating the characteristic triangular shawl shape. The pattern includes detailed abbreviations for all techniques, including yarn over (yo), ssk (slip, slip, knit), k2tog (knit two together), and marker placement (pm), ensuring clarity for intermediate knitters.