Tweed Shawlette Wrap Knitting Pattern

Tweed Shawlette in Rowan Felted Tweed

What is Being Made

The Tweed Shawlette is a triangular wrap garment designed for intermediate knitters. This shawlette features a generous finished size of approximately 200 cm (28¾ inches) in width and 39 cm (12¾ inches) in depth, making it a versatile accessory suitable for layering over shoulders or wearing as a decorative wrap. The design combines classic shawl construction with contemporary colorwork techniques.

Techniques Used

This project employs slip stitch colorwork as its primary decorative technique, creating intricate patterned textures without the complexity of traditional stranded colorwork. The pattern utilizes increases strategically placed throughout the rows to shape the triangular silhouette characteristic of shawlettes. The slip stitch method allows knitters to work with two colors while managing only one color per row, reducing tension issues and simplifying yarn management. Additionally, the pattern incorporates yarn overs and make-one increases (M1R notation) to expand the fabric progressively from the cast-on edge.

Stitches Used

The Tweed Shawlette relies on fundamental knitting stitches executed with precision:

• Knit stitch (K) – the primary structural stitch forming the base fabric
• Purl stitch (P) – used in specific rows to create texture variation and pattern definition
• Slip stitch purlwise with yarn in back (sl1 wyib) – slips stitches to the right needle without working them, with yarn held at the back of the work, creating subtle color blocking
• Slip stitch purlwise with yarn in front (sl1 wyif) – similar slip technique executed with yarn held at the front, producing dimensional pattern effects
• Slip slip knit (ssk) – a left-leaning decrease that reduces stitch count when shaping is required
• Make-one right (M1R) – an increase worked between stitches to add width while maintaining pattern continuity

Materials

The Tweed Shawlette is knitted using Rowan Felted Tweed yarn, a premium wool blend that provides excellent stitch definition and drape. The project requires two color options from this yarn line: Yarn A in Carbon (shade 159) and Yarn B in French Mustard (shade 216). The yardage requirements are 2 skeins of the Carbon shade and 1 skein of the French Mustard shade, with each skein weighing 50 grams. Knitting is executed on 4mm (US size 6) needles, which are sized to achieve the specified gauge of 24 stitches and 38 rows over 10 centimeters when working the stitch pattern. This needle and yarn combination produces a fabric with excellent stitch clarity, allowing the slip stitch colorwork to display its full visual impact.

Pattern Characteristics

The pattern demonstrates intermediate-level complexity through its multi-row repeat sequences and color changes. Rows alternate between the two yarn colors while maintaining consistent slip stitch placement, requiring knitters to track pattern repeats and manage yarn transitions smoothly. The shawlette expands gradually through strategic increases, with stitch counts rising from the initial cast-on through rows 9 and 13, reaching approximately 90 stitches. The slip stitch colorwork creates a textured, tweedy appearance that complements the yarn's natural fiber characteristics and justifies the Felted Tweed product name.