Cascade shawl 32

Cascade Shawl 32 by Brian Smith Designs

Project Overview

The Cascade Shawl 32 is an intermediate-level knitted shawl designed by Brian Smith. This downloadable PDF pattern creates a generous triangular wrap featuring a wingspan of 186cm and a maximum depth of 60cm when blocked, making it an elegant layering piece suitable for various occasions.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a large triangular shawl worked from a small cast-on that expands through strategic increases to create a dramatic, flowing silhouette. The finished shawl provides substantial coverage with its generous dimensions, ideal for draping across shoulders or wearing as a wrap.

Knitting Techniques Used

The Cascade Shawl 32 employs several intermediate knitting techniques to achieve its construction:

• Directional Pickup Method: The pattern begins with a small garter stitch rectangle, then rotates the work 90 degrees to pick up stitches from the purl bumps along the long edge, and rotates again to pick up stitches from the cast-on edge. This creates a three-directional foundation.
• Wrap and Turn Shaping: The W&T (wrap and turn) technique creates short rows that shape the shawl's contours and add depth without adding bulk.
• Strategic Increases: Make one right (M1R) and make one left (M1L) increases are used to expand the shawl evenly, while yarn over (YO) increases add decorative lace elements.
• Decrease Techniques: Knit two together (K2tog), slip slip knit (ssk), and slip one stitch purlwise, knit two stitches together, pass the slipped stitch over (SK2TOGP) decreases are employed for shaping and stitch management.
• Blocking: Proper blocking is essential to achieve the finished measurements and to even out the garter stitch texture.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined to create the shawl's structure:

• Garter Stitch: Forms the foundation rectangle and likely comprises much of the shawl body, creating a textured, reversible fabric.
• Knit Stitch (K): The primary stitch throughout the pattern.
• Purl Stitch (P): Used in specific sections to create texture variation.
• Yarn Over (YO): Creates decorative openwork and lace elements within the shawl.
• Knit Front and Back (Kfb): An increase stitch that adds both a new stitch and subtle texture.
• Various Decreases: K2tog, ssk, and SK2TOGP decreases balance increases and shape the shawl's edges.

Materials and Tools

Yarn: The pattern calls for Cascade 220 yarn in the shade Aspen Heather, a worsted-weight wool yarn. Three skeins are required to complete the shawl, providing ample yardage for the generous finished dimensions.

Needles: A 5mm (US size 8, UK size 6) circular needle measuring 120cm in length accommodates the expanding stitch count as the shawl grows.

Notions and Accessories: The pattern requires stitch markers to denote pattern repeats and important sections, a row counter to track progress through the instructions, a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, and a blocking kit to properly finish the completed shawl.

Gauge and Finished Measurements

The blocked garter stitch gauge is 24 rows and 14 stitches over 10cm, which is essential for achieving the intended finished dimensions. After blocking, the completed shawl measures 186cm across the wingspan and 60cm at its widest depth, creating a substantial and versatile accessory.

Difficulty Level

Rated as intermediate, this pattern assumes familiarity with basic knitting techniques and introduces more advanced shaping methods such as short rows and directional pickup techniques. Knitters should be comfortable reading pattern abbreviations and following multi-step instructions.