Brid

Brid Shawl by Taiga Hilliard Designs

What is Being Made

Brid is a quick-to-knit shawl designed for warmth and comfort. This downloadable knitting pattern produces a finished shawl measuring 12 inches by 74 inches, making it an ideal accessory for layering or wrapping. The shawl is completed in just 22 rows of knitting, making it an excellent project for crafters seeking rapid results without sacrificing design quality.

Knitting Techniques Used

The Brid shawl employs several fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques to create its structure and lace details. The pattern incorporates yarn overs (YO), which create decorative openings and are essential to the lace design. Double yarn overs appear in the pattern and are worked on subsequent rows by purling and knitting into the individual loops created. The shawl uses decreases to shape the fabric and balance the yarn overs, including standard knit two together (K2tog) decreases and slip, slip, knit (SSK) decreases. Double decreases are also featured, providing more dramatic shaping; these include both a standard double decrease (slip 1, K2tog, pass slipped stitch over) and a centered double decrease (slip 2 as if to knit, knit 1, pass slipped stitches over). The pattern uses make one (M1) increases, worked by picking up the horizontal strand between needles from back to front and knitting through the back loop. Stitch markers help track pattern repeats and sections throughout the 22-row construction.

Stitches Used

• Knit (K) – the fundamental stitch forming the base fabric
• Purl (P) – used for textural variation and pattern definition
• Yarn Over (YO) – creates lace openings and decorative eyelets
• Knit Two Together (K2tog) – a right-leaning decrease
• Slip, Slip, Knit (SSK) – a left-leaning decrease
• Double Decrease (DD) – slip 1, K2tog, pass slipped stitch over for centered shaping
• Centered Double Decrease (CDD) – slip 2 as if to knit, knit 1, pass slipped stitches over
• Make One (M1) – an increase worked from the horizontal strand between stitches
• Slip Marker (Sm) – used to mark pattern sections

Pattern Format and Instructions

The Brid pattern is provided in both charted and written formats, offering flexibility for knitters who prefer visual charts or row-by-row written instructions. The pattern begins with a long tail cast on of 34 stitches. Row 1 is worked on the wrong side (WS) as a knit row. Special attention is given to rows following double yarn overs, where knitters purl 1 and knit 1 into each yarn over loop on rows 3, 7, and 9. The pattern is organized into sections, with instructions continuing through row 14 and beyond, allowing for systematic progression through the 22-row design.

Yarn and Needle Requirements

The Brid shawl is designed using Malabrigo Rasta yarn in the Azules colorway, a super-chunky weight yarn that contributes to the project's quick completion time. The pattern requires only 130 yards of yarn, making this an economical project ideal for using yarn from stash or purchasing a single skein. The recommended needle size is US 19 (15.0 mm), though crafters should select the needle size necessary to achieve the specified gauge. The pattern specifies a gauge of 6.0 stitches over 4 inches, which should be checked before beginning to ensure proper finished dimensions.

Difficulty Level

Brid is rated as an intermediate difficulty knitting pattern. While the project is quick to complete with only 22 rows, the inclusion of lace techniques, multiple types of decreases, yarn overs, and increases requires familiarity with these intermediate-level skills. The pattern is well-suited for knitters who have mastered basic stitches and are ready to explore decorative lace construction and shaping techniques.