Valley Yarns Ansonia Shawl Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Ansonia Shawl

What Is Being Made

The Ansonia Shawl is a cozy, medium-weight triangular shawl designed to provide warmth and style. With a finished wingspan of 54 inches and a deepest point of 17.5 inches, this shawl offers generous coverage perfect for draping across the shoulders or wearing as an elegant wrap. Designed by Tian Connaughton, the Ansonia combines functional warmth with beautiful lace detailing, making it suitable for both everyday wear and special occasions.

Construction Method

This shawl is worked from the bottom up, a construction technique that allows knitters to begin with the widest edge and gradually decrease toward the top point. The bottom-up approach provides flexibility in shawl length, as knitters can easily adjust the finished dimensions by working additional or fewer rows before binding off. The pattern uses short-row shaping to create the triangular silhouette without wrapping and turning at the edges, simplifying the construction process.

Stitch Techniques and Pattern Details

The Ansonia features two distinct stitch sections that work together to create visual interest and texture:

• Lace Edging: The shawl begins with a beautiful twisted stitch lace pattern worked over a multiple of 16 stitches. This lace section incorporates several advanced techniques including yarn overs (yo), decreases worked as knit 2 together (k2tog) and slip, slip, knit (ssk), and twisted stitches created by knitting and purling through the back loop (k1tbl and p1tbl). A signature wrapped stitch detail—wrap 5-sts (k2, p1, k2)—adds dimensional texture to the lace pattern.
• Stockinette Body: Above the lace edging, the shawl transitions into simple stockinette stitch, which provides a clean, smooth surface that showcases the yarn's natural beauty and allows the lace pattern below to remain the focal point.
• Garter Stitch Edges: Three stitches of garter stitch (knit on every row) are maintained on both sides throughout the pattern, creating a neat, finished edge that frames the design.

Yarn and Materials

The Ansonia is knitted using Valley Yarns Sunderland, a luxurious yarn composed of 100% baby alpaca. The pattern calls for 4 skeins of Sunderland, with each skein weighing 50 grams and providing 109 yards of yardage, for a total of approximately 436 yards. Baby alpaca yarn is prized for its softness, warmth, and gentle drape, making it an excellent choice for a shawl that will be worn close to the skin. The natural color option provides a versatile neutral that complements any wardrobe.

Needles and Gauge

The pattern is worked on US size 8 (5.00 mm) needles, though knitters should use the needle size that achieves the specified gauge. The target gauge is 17 stitches and 26 rows over 4 inches when measured in stockinette stitch. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements and ensuring the shawl drapes as intended.

Difficulty Level

Rated as intermediate, the Ansonia Shawl is suitable for knitters with some experience beyond basic knit and purl stitches. The pattern requires familiarity with lace knitting techniques, yarn overs, various decrease methods, and twisted stitches. The short-row shaping and the specialized wrap 5-sts technique add complexity, but the clear pattern instructions and the straightforward stockinette body sections provide balance for intermediate-level knitters looking to expand their skills.

Pattern Overview

The shawl begins with a cast-on of 246 stitches and includes a set-up row followed by the lace pattern rows. Knitters work through the lace edging section before transitioning to the stockinette body. The short-row sections are worked without wrapping, simplifying the technique while still creating the necessary shaping. Stitch markers help organize the repeating pattern sections, and the garter stitch edge stitches remain unworked during short-row sections to maintain neat edges.