Universal Yarn Verdigris Wrap Knitting Pattern

Universal Yarn Verdigris Knit Shawl

What is Being Made

Verdigris is a triangular knit shawl designed by Amy Gunderson, featuring finished measurements of 63 inches in length and 28 inches at the widest edge. This asymmetrical wrap is engineered to drape comfortably around the shoulders, combining modern geometric shaping with traditional shawl construction. The piece is classified as an intermediate-level knitting project, making it suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle more complex stitch patterns and shaping techniques.

Techniques Used

Verdigris is constructed using several advanced knitting techniques that create its distinctive visual appeal. The shawl is worked flat on circular needles, beginning from a small tip with just two stitches and expanding outward through strategic increases. The design features seamless construction in the sense that it is worked as a single continuous piece without seaming required. Cable techniques form the dramatic diagonal traveling stitches that serve as the primary decorative element throughout the shawl body. The asymmetrical triangular shape is achieved through a carefully planned increase pattern: increases occur on each side of the center cable, with one stitch increased every 4 rows on the right side and every 8 rows on the left side, creating the modern, unbalanced silhouette.

Stitches Used

The pattern employs several key stitches to construct the Verdigris shawl. Right Twist (RT) is a foundational stitch created by knitting two stitches together without slipping them from the needle, then knitting the first stitch again before slipping both stitches off. Right Cross (RC) involves slipping one stitch to a cable needle, holding it in back, working a Right Twist from the left needle, and then knitting one stitch from the cable needle. These cable-based stitches create the traveling diagonal lines that define the shawl's aesthetic. The pattern also incorporates make-one increases (m1 and m1P) for shaping, knit and purl stitches for textural variation, and slip stitches for stitch marker placement. The shawl body is worked in a charted stitch pattern that combines these elements into a cohesive design.

Materials

Verdigris is knit using Universal Yarn Deluxe Worsted Tweed Superwash in the colorway 905 Pine. This yarn composition includes 90 percent superwash wool, 7 percent acrylic, and 3 percent viscose, providing warmth, durability, and easy care. The project requires 4 balls of yarn, with each ball containing 100 grams and 218 yards, yielding approximately 872 yards total. The pattern calls for US Size 8 (5 mm) circular needles measuring 24 inches or longer to accommodate the large number of stitches as the shawl expands. Additional notions include stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats, a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, and a cable needle for executing the cable stitches. The recommended gauge is 18 stitches by 24 rows over 4 inches in the shawl body pattern, which knitters should verify before beginning to ensure proper finished dimensions.