Valley Yarns Shenandoah Valley Shawl Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Shenandoah Valley Shawl

What is Being Made

The Shenandoah Valley Shawl is a large, elegant wrap designed by Katharine Malcolm. This seamless knit shawl measures 27 inches wide by 72 inches long after blocking, making it an ideal accessory for summer evenings when you need just a touch of warmth. The design is inspired by the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley, with mountains featured at each end and a valley running through the center of the piece.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project combines multiple advanced techniques to create visual interest and texture:

• Cable knitting: Cable rows feature prominently in the shawl's construction, particularly in the triangular sections at the ends. These cables are created using a cable needle and include stitches such as 3/3 RC (right cable), which adds dimension and a classic twisted texture to the design.
• Lace knitting: Eyelet lace patterns form a major design element, running throughout the shawl. The lace is created using yarn overs (yo) combined with decreases such as ssk (slip, slip, knit) and k2tog (knit two together), which create the characteristic openwork holes typical of lace patterns.
• Seamless construction: The shawl is worked in one piece from cast-on to bind-off, eliminating the need for seaming. This technique ensures a smooth, continuous fabric and allows the stitch patterns to flow uninterrupted across the entire piece.
• Chart-based pattern: The pattern uses multiple charts (Chart A, Chart C, and Chart D) to guide the knitter through different sections of the shawl, with clear row-by-row instructions for executing the cable and lace motifs.

Stitches Used

The Shenandoah Valley Shawl employs a variety of fundamental and intermediate knitting stitches:

• Knit (k) and purl (p): These basic stitches form the foundation of the pattern, creating the stockinette stitch sections in the center valley and the reverse stockinette borders.
• Yarn over (yo): Used extensively in the lace sections to create the eyelet openings that characterize the pattern.
• Slip, slip, knit (ssk): A left-leaning decrease used in conjunction with yarn overs to form the lace pattern and maintain stitch count.
• Knit two together (k2tog): A right-leaning decrease that works alongside yarn overs and ssk stitches to create balanced lace motifs.
• Cable stitches: Specifically 3/3 RC (right cable), which involves crossing stitches over a cable needle to create the twisted rope-like texture in the cable sections.
• Stitch markers: Three stitch markers are used to denote pattern repeats and section boundaries throughout the knitting process.

Materials

The Shenandoah Valley Shawl is worked in luxurious natural fibers that create a soft, draping fabric ideal for a summer wrap:

• Yarn: One cone of Valley Yarns 2/14 Alpaca Silk, which is composed of 80% alpaca and 20% silk. The yarn provides approximately 1736 yards per 8.8 ounces, with approximately 1500 yards used to complete the finished shawl. The yarn color is Whipple Blue, a shade inspired by the mountain landscape of the Shenandoah Valley.
• Needles: US size 6 (4.00 mm) needles, available in either straight or circular configurations, depending on knitter preference. Circular needles may be preferred for managing the large number of stitches (cast-on of 168 stitches) as the shawl grows.
• Additional materials: A cable needle is required for executing the cable stitches, and three stitch markers help organize the pattern sections during knitting.
• Gauge: The pattern is worked to a gauge of 26 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches when blocked, measured in Chart C. Achieving proper gauge is essential for the shawl to reach its intended finished measurements.