SweetGeorgia Curiosa Wrap Knitting Pattern

SweetGeorgia Curiosa Asymmetrical Knit Shawl

What is Being Made

The Curiosa is an asymmetrical shawl designed by Emily Wood, featuring tilting blocks of bright colours surrounded by broken rib sections. This accessory combines bold colour work with elegant stitch patterns, creating a garment that balances grace and daring. The finished shawl measures 54 (66½)" / 137 (169) cm long and 24 (30)" / 61 (76) cm at its widest point, making it a versatile wrap suitable for various occasions.

Techniques Used

This knitting pattern employs several key techniques to achieve its distinctive aesthetic:

• Bottom-up construction: The shawl is worked from the bottom edge upward, allowing knitters to monitor progress and adjust the final size if desired.
• Seamless, worked flat: The design is created on a single piece without seaming, worked back and forth on circular needles rather than in the round.
• Lace elements: Yarn overs and decreases create openwork sections that contribute to the shawl's flowing, graceful appearance.
• Bias fabric construction: The tilting blocks create a bias effect that causes the fabric to sway back and forth like wavy lines, adding movement and visual interest to the finished piece.
• Colour work: The pattern incorporates a main colour with multiple contrasting colours from the Party of Five set, allowing for creative colour combinations.

Stitches Used

The Curiosa pattern utilizes three primary stitch patterns, each with distinct characteristics:

• Broken Rib stitch: This textured stitch alternates knit and purl stitches to create vertical lines with subtle texture. It serves as the foundation surrounding the colourful tilting blocks and provides structural definition.
• Tilting Blocks stitch: The signature stitch pattern that creates the bold, directional blocks of colour. This stitch combines knit stitches with strategic yarn overs and decreases to form the distinctive tilting effect.
• Stockinette stitch: Smooth knit and purl rows create a classic fabric base used in portions of the design.

The pattern also incorporates fundamental techniques including yarn overs (yo) for lace creation, knit two together (k2tog) and slip, slip, knit (ssk) for decreases, and knit into front and back (kfb) for increases that shape the asymmetrical silhouette.

Materials and Specifications

The Curiosa pattern calls for specific yarn and needle requirements to achieve the intended finished measurements and drape:

• Main colour yarn: 1 skein of SweetGeorgia Yarns Tough Love Sock in Birch (425 yds / 388 m per 4 oz / 115 g skein). This yarn is composed of 80% Superwash Merino and 20% Nylon, providing durability and easy care.
• Contrasting colour yarn: 1 set of SweetGeorgia Yarns Party of Five in Tough Love Sock in Candy Shop (105 yds / 96 m per 1 oz / 28 g skein per colour; 80% Superwash Merino, 20% Nylon). This set provides five coordinating contrast colours for the tilting blocks.
• Needles: US Size 4 / 3.5 mm circular needle, at least 24" / 60 cm in length. Circular needles accommodate the flat working method and provide sufficient length for the expanding shawl.

Gauge and Skill Level

The pattern is rated at an Intermediate skill level, indicating that knitters should have experience with basic stitch techniques and colour changes. Proper gauge is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements and ensuring the shawl drapes as intended. The pattern specifies three different gauges depending on the stitch section:

• 26 stitches and 30 rows = 4" / 10 cm in Broken Rib stitch after blocking
• 24 stitches and 32 rows = 4" / 10 cm in Tilting Blocks stitch after blocking
• 24 stitches and 36 rows = 4" / 10 cm in Stockinette stitch after blocking

Knitters should adjust