SweetGeorgia Jana Wrap Knitting Pattern

SweetGeorgia Jana Crescent Shawl

What is Being Made

The Jana is a crescent-shaped shawl inspired by the natural formations of the Moeraki Boulders in New Zealand. This garment features a striking stitch pattern reminiscent of rock-strewn beaches, creating a visually captivating accessory. The finished shawl measures 58 ¼ inches (148 cm) wide with varying depths: 7 ¼ inches (18.5 cm) at the side edge and 13 ¼ inches (33.5 cm) at the centre, making it a versatile wrap suitable for draping across the shoulders or wearing as a statement piece.

Techniques Used

The Jana employs several key knitting techniques to achieve its distinctive crescent shape and textured appearance. The shawl is worked flat from the bottom up, meaning knitting progresses from the cast-on edge upward rather than in the round. Short-row shaping is utilized to create the curved crescent silhouette, allowing the shawl to gradually increase in depth from the edges toward the center. The pattern combines garter stitch sections with decorative stitch work, creating both structural stability and visual interest. The design is seamless, requiring no seaming or finishing of separate pieces.

Stitches Used

The Jana features an easy-to-remember stitch pattern called the Garter Hole pattern, which forms the foundation of the design. This pattern alternates between knit and purl rows to create garter stitch, interspersed with deliberate yarn-over decreases that form decorative holes throughout the fabric. The pattern repeat consists of 16 rows and incorporates basic decreases including knit two together (k2tog), a right-slanting decrease, and purl two together through the back loop (p2tog tbl). Cast-on and bind-off techniques using the backward loop method are employed to create and finish the openwork sections, adding to the shawl's delicate aesthetic.

Materials and Gauge

The Jana pattern calls for 2 skeins of SweetGeorgia Yarns Mohair Silk DK yarn, with the pattern sample worked in the colorway London Fog. This yarn contains 90% Superwash Merino Wool, 5% Super Kid Mohair, and 5% Silk, providing a blend of warmth, softness, and subtle sheen. Each skein yields 218 yards (200 meters) at 3.5 ounces (100 grams). The pattern requires a Size 6 US (4 mm) circular needle measuring 40 inches (100 cm) long, with gauge adjustment recommended if necessary to obtain correct tension. The recommended gauge is 22 stitches and 30 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in Stockinette stitch after blocking, and 22 stitches and 32 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in the Garter Holes pattern after blocking. The pattern is rated at an Easy skill level, making it accessible to knitters with basic experience.

Pattern Structure

The Jana is organized into distinct sections. Section A begins with casting on 326 stitches and working the Garter Hole pattern 3 complete repeats, followed by working Rows 1 through 6 once more, ending after a wrong-side row. Section B continues with short-row shaping, beginning with a right-side row where knitting progresses to a specific stitch count before turning to work back, gradually building the crescent shape. The pattern incorporates cast-on and bind-off techniques within the working rows to create the openwork holes characteristic of the design, with yarn reattached using the backward loop cast-on method to continue building the fabric.