SweetGeorgia Attu Wrap Knitting Pattern

SweetGeorgia Attu Sideways Asymmetrical Shawl

What Is Being Made

The Attu is a sideways asymmetrical shawl designed by Tabetha Hedrick for SweetGeorgia Yarns. This accessory features a distinctive asymmetrical shape with finished measurements of 66 inches (167.5 cm) wide and 19½ inches (49.5 cm) at its deepest point. The shawl is worked flat using a bottom-up construction method, making it an ideal project for knitters seeking a statement piece that combines elegant lace work with bold, gradient colorwork.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs several key knitting techniques that work together to create the shawl's distinctive aesthetic:

• Sideways construction: The shawl is worked horizontally rather than from top to bottom, allowing the knitter to build the asymmetrical shape gradually across the rows.
• Seamless, worked flat: The entire project is completed on a single piece without seaming, worked flat on circular needles.
• Stripes: The pattern incorporates color changes throughout, utilizing the five distinct colors from the Party of Five yarn set to create sultry gradients.
• Lace integration: Openwork sections are strategically placed throughout the design, adding visual interest and lightness to the finished accessory.

Stitches Used

The Attu features the Fan & Feather stitch as its primary pattern element. This stitch pattern repeats over a multiple of 10 stitches plus 7 additional stitches. The stitch instructions incorporate several fundamental knitting techniques:

• Yarn overs (yo): Create the lace openings characteristic of the Fan & Feather pattern.
• Knit stitches (k): Form the solid fabric sections between lace elements.
• Purl stitches (p): Used selectively to add texture and definition.
• Decreases: Including knit 2 together (k2tog), purl 2 together (p2tog), slip-slip-knit (ssk), and the centered double decrease (s2kp) work in concert with yarn overs to maintain stitch count while shaping the lace.
• Purl through the back loop (p tbl): Adds textural variation and twisted stitches where needed.

The Fan & Feather stitch comes alive through the interplay of these elements, creating soft texture and gradual increases that define the shawl's shape.

Materials and Gauge

The Attu is designed to be knitted with one SweetGeorgia Yarns Party of Five set in Whisper, which provides 525 yards (480 meters) of yarn total. The yarn is composed of 80% Superwash Merino and 20% Nylon, offering both softness and durability. The five colors in the set are labeled as Colour A (Sapphire), Colour B (Bluebell), Colour C (Lupine), Colour D (Iris), and Colour E (Empress).

The pattern calls for a US Size 6 / 4 mm circular needle measuring 24 inches (60 cm). The recommended gauge is 17 stitches and 34 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) when the Fan Pattern is blocked and stretched. While gauge is noted as not crucial to the project's success, adjusting needle size to obtain the established gauge will affect both the required yardage and the finished dimensions of the shawl.

Skill Level

This pattern is rated as Intermediate, making it suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle lace work and color changes. The combination of the Fan & Feather stitch pattern, yarn overs, multiple decrease types, and color transitions requires attention to detail and familiarity with reading charts and pattern instructions.