Valley Yarns Dappled Shawlette Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Dappled Shawlette

What is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Dappled Shawlette is a triangular neck-down shawl designed by Erika Flory. This finished piece measures approximately 44 inches wide and 22 inches long after blocking, making it a versatile accessory suitable for layering or wearing as a lightweight wrap. The shawlette is worked as a seamless construction, beginning at the neckline and expanding outward through strategic increases.

Knitting Techniques

This design employs several key knitting techniques that make it ideal for advanced beginners looking to expand their skill set:

• Top-Down Construction: The shawlette is worked from the neck down, with increases occurring every other row to create the triangular silhouette. This method allows knitters to try on the piece as it grows and adjust the final size if desired.
• Seamless Knitting: Worked on a circular needle in the round, this construction eliminates the need for seaming, creating a polished, professional finish.
• Lace Patterning: The design features a simple textured eyelet stitch pattern that is neither too busy nor too plain, making it an excellent introduction to lace knitting for those advancing beyond basic stockinette stitch.
• Knitted-On Edging: A classic knitted-on edging is attached to the lower edge of the shawl as it is worked, finishing the piece neatly without requiring additional finishing steps.
• Wet Blocking: Before blocking, the eyelet section appears scrunched together on the needles. Wet blocking opens up the eyelets to reveal the intended lace pattern and achieves the final measurements.

Stitches Used

The Dappled Shawlette utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined to create texture and shaping:

• Garter Stitch: Used for the initial garter tab cast-on method, which provides a stable foundation and allows for picking up stitches along the edges to begin the main body.
• Stockinette Stitch: The base fabric used throughout much of the shawl, providing a smooth canvas for the eyelet pattern. Gauge is measured at 22 stitches and 30 rows per 4 inches in stockinette stitch before blocking.
• Eyelet Stitch: Created through yarn overs (yo) paired with knit two together (k2tog) decreases, this stitch pattern forms small decorative holes that open up during blocking to create the lace effect.
• Yarn Overs and Decreases: Yarn overs and knit two together decreases are used strategically for both shaping (increases on either side of the center stitch) and patterning (the eyelet motifs).

Materials

The Dappled Shawlette pattern calls for specific materials chosen to showcase the design:

• Yarn: One skein of Valley Yarns Charlemont Hand Dyed in the color Oak Grove. This yarn contains 60% Fine Superwash Merino, 20% Mulberry Silk, and 20% Polyamide, with 100 grams providing 439 yards of yardage. The blend of merino wool, silk, and polyamide creates a yarn with excellent drape, sheen, and durability—ideal properties for showcasing lace patterns.
• Needles: A US size 6 (4.0mm) circular needle measuring 24 inches is recommended, though the pattern notes to use the size needed to achieve the specified gauge.
• Notions: Stitch markers are required to track the center stitch and pattern repeats throughout the construction.

Pattern Structure and Construction Details

The shawlette is constructed in distinct sections. The garter tab cast-on method begins with 2 stitches, worked for 6 rows, then stitches are picked up along the garter ridges and cast-on edge to create 7 stitches. After a set-up row, the shawl body begins with 11 stitches and increases by 4 stitches every other row until reaching 55 stitches. The eyelet section then begins, repeating a 6-row pattern for a total of 14 repeats, which brings the stitch count to 223 stitches before the final edging is attached. The wrong side of the shawlette looks great as well, making