SweetGeorgia Bridgeward Leaves Shawl Wrap Knitting Pattern

SweetGeorgia Bridgeward Leaves Shawl

What Is Being Made

The Bridgeward Leaves Shawl is a top-down triangular lace shawl designed by Grace Verhagen. Inspired by the "Leaf Shadows" motif collected by Barbara Walker, this shawl evokes the aesthetic of vines enveloping red brick buildings in the shade of the Granville Street Bridge. The finished shawl measures 34 inches in height and 64 inches in length, making it a generous wrap suitable for layering or draping.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs lace knitting as its primary technique, worked flat from the top down. The construction begins with a set-up section, after which the shawl is built using charted lace repeats. The design incorporates a consistent edge treatment on all wrong-side rows and a standardized right-side row structure. Stitch markers are recommended throughout the lace sections to help track pattern repeats and maintain accuracy, particularly around the center stitch and between chart repeats.

Stitches and Stitch Details

The pattern uses stockinette stitch as the base fabric, with lace motifs created through strategic yarn-overs and decreases. All wrong-side rows follow the same rhythm: slip 1 stitch, knit 2, purl until 3 stitches remain, then knit 3. All right-side rows begin with slip 1 and knit 1, then work the charted lace pattern, and end with knit 3. Both charted and written instructions are provided, allowing knitters to work from either format based on personal preference.

Materials and Yarn Options

Two yarn weight options are available for this pattern:

• Laceweight Version: 1 skein of SweetGeorgia Yarns Merino Silk Lace in Cayenne (765 yards / 700 meters per 3.53 ounces / 100 grams). This yarn is composed of 50% Merino and 50% Cultivated Silk.
• Fingering-weight Version: 2 skeins of SweetGeorgia Yarns Merino Silk Fine in Spruce (380 yards / 347 meters per 3.53 ounces / 100 grams per skein). This yarn is also 50% Merino and 50% Cultivated Silk.

The fingering-weight version is featured in the pattern photographs. The laceweight version may produce a slightly smaller finished shawl.

Needles, Gauge, and Notions

Knitters will need US Size 4 / 3.5mm circular needles measuring 32 inches long. Needle size should be adjusted as necessary to obtain the correct gauge. The recommended gauge is 20 stitches and 34 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) in stockinette stitch after blocking. While exact gauge is not essential, variations in gauge may affect both the finished size of the shawl and the total yardage required.

Additional notions include a tapestry needle, 20 stitch markers, blocking pins, and optional blocking wires.

Skill Level and Requirements

This pattern is rated as Intermediate skill level. Knitters should have a basic understanding of lace knitting and the ability to read lace charts before beginning this project.