Bordeaux Trellis Shawl in Cascade Yarns Heritage Solids - FW265 - Downloadable PDF

Bordeaux Trellis Shawl in Cascade Yarns Heritage Solids – Pattern Summary (FW265)

The Bordeaux Trellis Shawl is a beautifully elegant knitted accessory designed by Nancy Lekx and published by Cascade Yarns. This intermediate-level pattern (FW265) produces a classic triangular shawl with generous, wearable dimensions: 60 inches wide from tip to tip and 10 inches deep at the center back. The finished piece is ideal for draping over the shoulders as a lightweight wrap, making it a versatile addition to any handknitted wardrobe. The pattern is available as a free downloadable PDF.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a triangular knitted shawl — a timeless accessory format that begins at a central spine or tip and grows outward through strategic increases. The shawl's name references both its rich Bordeaux colorway and its decorative trellis stitch pattern, which gives the fabric an open, lattice-like texture reminiscent of a garden trellis. The resulting piece is lightweight yet structured, with excellent drape thanks to the fiber content of the recommended yarn.

Design Details and Construction

The shawl is worked in a traditional triangular construction, likely beginning with a small number of stitches and expanding outward using yarn-over increases and shaped decreases to form the characteristic wedge silhouette. The trellis motif introduces a lace-influenced texture that adds visual interest without overwhelming complexity, making it an approachable challenge for knitters at the intermediate skill level.

Blocking is an essential finishing step for this design. The pattern specifically calls for rust-proof pins and wet or steam blocking to open up the stitch pattern and achieve the stated finished measurements. Blocking is particularly important for lace and textured shawls, as it relaxes the fibers, evens out the stitches, and allows the trellis motif to fully bloom.

Techniques Used

• Triangular shawl construction — building the shawl from a central point or spine outward with paired increases
• Lace and trellis patterning — creating an open, decorative fabric using a combination of yarn-overs and decreases
• Shaping with decreases — including edge and motif shaping throughout the body of the shawl
• Casting on and binding off — standard techniques for beginning and finishing the piece
• Blocking — wet blocking with rust-proof pins to set the final shape and open the stitch pattern
• Working flat on circular needles — the use of a circular needle accommodates the large stitch count as the shawl grows

Stitches Used

• Knit (K) — the foundational stitch used throughout the pattern
• Purl (P) — used on wrong-side rows and within the stitch pattern
• K2tog (Knit 2 Together) — a right-leaning decrease used for shaping and within the trellis motif
• SSK (Slip, Slip, Knit) — a left-leaning decrease that mirrors K2tog for balanced shaping
• P2tog (Purl 2 Together) — a purl-side decrease used where needed within the pattern
• SK2P (Slip 1, Knit 2 Together, Pass Slipped Stitch Over) — a centered double decrease that removes two stitches at once, commonly used in lace and trellis patterns to create sharp points or define motif lines
• Stockinette Stitch — referenced in the gauge swatch, forming the base fabric against which the trellis pattern is set

Materials

Yarn

The pattern calls for Cascade Yarns® Heritage, a 4-ply (fingering weight) yarn composed of 75% Superwash Merino Wool and 25% Nylon. Each skein contains 100 g (3.5 oz) / 437 yards (400 m),