128 Superwash Rocky RoadShawl in Cascade Yarns - C368 - Downloadable PDF

Shannon Dunbabin's Rocky Road Shawl in Cascade Yarns 128 Superwash — Pattern Summary

The Rocky Road Shawl (C368) is a beautifully structured, large-format knitted shawl designed by Shannon Dunbabin and published by Cascade Yarns®. This free downloadable PDF pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty and produces a single adult-sized shawl with an impressive finished wingspan of 76 inches and a depth of 23 inches — generous dimensions that make it a truly wearable, cozy wrap for cooler seasons.

What Is Being Made

The Rocky Road Shawl is a classic triangular shawl worked in a multi-color striped garter stitch construction. Its large wingspan and deep center make it versatile enough to wear as a traditional shawl draped over the shoulders, a cozy wrap, or even a light cape. The shaping is achieved through strategic increases worked consistently throughout the body of the piece, creating the characteristic triangular silhouette beloved in handknit shawl design.

Construction and Techniques

The shawl is worked flat from a small cast-on of just 5 stitches, growing outward through a series of carefully placed increases. This top-down or tip-outward construction means knitters can easily adjust the size if desired by working more or fewer rows before binding off. Key construction techniques include:

• Kfb (Knit in front and back) — the primary increase used to add one stitch every two rows during the garter section, gradually building the shawl's width
• K2tog (Knit two together) — a right-leaning decrease used in the set-up rows to create a clean, defined edge or decorative detail
• YO (Yarn over) — used to create decorative eyelets or lace-like openings within the pattern, adding visual texture and interest
• Garter stitch sections — the main body fabric, worked by knitting every row on both right side and wrong side, producing a squishy, reversible ridged texture that lies flat without blocking
• Multi-color striping — the three yarn colors are alternated throughout the shawl, creating the "rocky road" visual effect of contrasting stripes and color blocks

Stitches Used

The Rocky Road Shawl relies on a focused set of stitches that make it approachable for intermediate knitters while still producing a polished, professional result:

• Knit (K) — the foundational stitch used throughout
• Purl (P) — referenced in the abbreviations, used selectively for texture or stitch definition
• Kfb — increase stitch for shaping
• K2tog — decrease stitch for shaping and detail
• YO (Yarn over) — for decorative open-work detail
• Garter stitch — the primary stitch pattern forming the body of the shawl

Materials — Yarn

The pattern calls for Cascade Yarns® 128 Superwash®, a chunky weight yarn made from 100% Superwash Merino Wool. Each skein contains 100 g (3.5 oz) / 128 yards (117 m). The superwash treatment makes the finished shawl machine washable — a practical advantage for a frequently worn accessory. Three colorways are used, with a total of 6 skeins across the three colors:

• Color A: 2 skeins of #1926 Doeskin Heather — a warm, earthy heathered neutral
• Color B: 2 skeins of #817 Ecru — a soft, creamy off-white
• Color C: 2 skeins of #863 Cordovan — a rich, deep reddish-brown

The combination of these three tones creates the warm, layered color palette that