Universal Yarn Small Pleasures eBook Knitting Pattern

Blue Oak Shawl by Rachel Brockman

What is Being Made

The Blue Oak Shawl is a triangular shawl designed for knitters seeking a relaxing, meditative project. With a finished depth of 20 inches at the center and a wingspan of 56 inches, this shawl offers generous coverage suitable for layering or wrapping. The design draws inspiration from oak tree leaves, particularly when properly blocked, making it an elegant accessory piece.

Knitting Techniques

This shawl employs several fundamental knitting techniques that make it accessible yet visually interesting. The construction begins with a garter tab cast-on, a method that creates a neat starting point for top-down shawl knitting. The garment is worked from the top down, with four stitches increased every Right Side row during the main body, then reduced to two stitches increased every Right Side row in the final section. This graduated increase creates the characteristic triangular shawl shape.

The shawl features slip stitch colorwork, which is described as an easy-to-memorize pattern requiring only one color to be worked at a time. This approach eliminates the complexity of carrying multiple colors across rows, making it ideal for knitters new to colorwork. The pattern incorporates a suspended bind-off method to ensure the finished edge remains elastic and flexible.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Blue Oak Shawl utilizes several key stitches and pattern sequences:

• Grain Pattern: A repeating 4-row slip stitch motif using alternating knit and slip stitches with yarn held in back and in front, creating a dotted texture
• Garter Stitch: Knit on every row, used for the initial tab cast-on and portions of the lace edging
• Lace Stitches: The border features a lace edging with yarn overs, decreases (k3tog and sssk), and knit stitches arranged in a 16-stitch repeat plus 1 stitch, creating the oak leaf appearance
• Yarn Overs and Decreases: The lace section incorporates yarn overs for openwork and double decreases (k3tog, sssk) to shape the leaf-like edging

Materials and Gauge

The Blue Oak Shawl calls for Universal Yarn Bella Cash, a premium blend composed of 60% fine merino superwash, 30% nylon, and 10% cashmere. This fiber content provides softness, durability, and easy care through machine washing. The pattern requires two colors: 116 Sage (Color A) at 2 balls and 110 Graphite (Color B) at 4 balls, with each ball containing 50 grams and 230 yards of yarn.

Knitting is worked on US Size 4 (3.5 mm) circular needles measuring 40 inches in length. The recommended gauge is 22 stitches and 30 rows equals 4 inches in the Grain pattern. Checking gauge before beginning is essential to ensure the finished shawl meets the intended measurements. Additional notions include stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

Design Characteristics

The Blue Oak Shawl is designed as a meditative knitting project where crafters select two colors that appeal to them personally. The solid color band created by Color A provides visual contrast against the dotted slip stitch texture of Color B, offering a pleasing design break. When blocked properly, the lace edging at the border resembles oak tree leaves, adding botanical elegance to the finished piece. The combination of straightforward colorwork, rhythmic stitch patterns, and lace detailing creates a balanced project suitable for intermediate knitters.