Valley Yarns Chandelier Shawl Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Chandelier Shawl

What Is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Chandelier Shawl is a sweeping, cozy triangular shawl designed by Emma Welford. This accessory measures 38 inches across the wingspan and 19 inches deep at the center spine, making it an ideal layering piece for chilly days. The shawl is worked flat from a small center point that expands outward through strategic increases, creating a dramatic silhouette suitable for draping over shoulders or wearing as a wrap.

Techniques Used

This advanced beginner project combines multiple sophisticated knitting techniques to create visual interest and structure. The shawl features cable work and lace patterning worked throughout the piece. The construction method involves working flat on circular needles rather than in the round, which allows for the triangular shape to develop naturally. The pattern uses strategic increases placed at marked intervals to control the rate of expansion and create the shawl's distinctive silhouette. Stitch markers play a crucial role in tracking pattern repeats and increase placement across multiple sections of the design.

Stitches Used

The Chandelier Shawl employs a variety of fundamental and intermediate stitches to achieve its textured appearance:

• Knit and purl stitches form the foundation of the stockinette stitch sections and textured panels
• Make one increases (m1 and m1p) are used extensively to shape the shawl; m1 creates a knit increase while m1p creates a purl increase by lifting the strand between needles and working into the lifted loop
• Knit front and back (kf&b) increases are employed for additional shaping in later rows
• Knit two together (k2tog) and purl two together (p2tog) decreases are used for shaping
• Slip, slip, knit (ssk) decreases create left-leaning decreases
• Slip 2 stitches as if to knit, knit 1, pass the 2 slipped stitches over (s2kp) and slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over (sk2p) create centered double decreases typical of lace patterns

Materials and Specifications

The Chandelier Shawl requires 6 skeins of Valley Yarns Colrain yarn in the Steel colorway. This yarn is composed of 50% Merino wool and 50% Tencel, a blend that provides both warmth and drape. Each skein contains 50 grams and yields 109 yards, providing approximately 654 yards of total yardage for the completed shawl.

Knitting needles required include a US size 7 (4.50 mm) circular needle measuring 32 inches in length, or the size needed to achieve the specified gauge. The pattern gauge is 4.25 stitches and 7.25 rows per 1 inch in stockinette stitch. Additional materials needed include stitch markers for tracking pattern sections and a cable needle for executing cable techniques throughout the design.

Construction Details

The shawl begins with a small cast-on of just 3 stitches, which are worked flat for 9 rows to create a small strip. Stitches are then picked up from both the side edge and cast-on edge of this strip, building the foundation to 9 stitches. From this starting point, the pattern establishes a framework using stitch markers to organize the design into distinct sections. Increases are worked strategically in marked areas, with the pattern repeating to expand the shawl to its finished dimensions. The right and wrong side rows are clearly distinguished, with wrong side rows typically maintaining established stitch patterns while right side rows introduce new increases and pattern elements. This methodical approach to shaping ensures even expansion and proper pattern alignment throughout the piece.