Cave Creek

Cave Creek Shawl by Taiga Hilliard Designs

Project Overview

Cave Creek is a versatile knitted shawl design that bridges the gap between beginner and advanced knitters. This intermediate-level project offers an excellent introduction to sideways knitting construction combined with lace sections, making it both accessible for those new to shawl knitting and engaging enough for experienced crafters seeking a straightforward yet elegant design.

What Is Being Made

Cave Creek is a knitted shawl worked sideways, meaning the piece is constructed from one edge toward the opposite edge rather than from top to bottom. This construction method creates a unique drape and allows for strategic placement of lace sections throughout the design. The finished shawl reaches approximately 60 stitches in width and requires 600 yards of yarn total.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Sideways construction: The shawl is knit horizontally, which allows for creative stitch placement and easier modification of dimensions
• Lace knitting: Sections of openwork lace are incorporated throughout the pattern, created using yarn overs and decreases to form decorative holes
• Increases and decreases: Strategic shaping is achieved through various increase and decrease methods to create the shawl's final form
• Stockinette stitch: Smooth knit and purl sections form the base fabric between lace elements

Stitches and Abbreviations

The pattern employs fundamental knitting stitches and techniques essential for shawl construction:

• KFB (Knit into the front and back): An increase stitch that creates two stitches from one
• K2tog (Knit 2 stitches together): A right-leaning decrease that combines two stitches into one
• SSK (Slip, slip, knit together): A left-leaning decrease worked by slipping two stitches individually, then knitting them together through the back loops
• YO (Yarn Over): Creates an eyelet or decorative hole in the fabric while increasing a stitch
• CDD (Central Double Decrease): An advanced decrease that slips two stitches together as if to knit, knits one stitch, then passes the slipped stitches over the knit stitch, creating a centered decrease

Materials and Specifications

Yarn: Mary Gavans Pepino in sport weight yarn. The project requires 600 yards total, making it an efficient use of yarn for a substantial finished piece.

Needles: US size 9 (5.50 mm) needles are used for this project.

Gauge: 16 stitches over 4 inches in stockinette stitch. Achieving proper gauge is important for obtaining the correct finished dimensions and ensuring the lace sections display as intended.

Pattern Structure

The Cave Creek pattern uses a repeating row sequence that builds the shawl gradually. The initial cast-on begins with just 2 stitches, which are increased through the first several rows to establish the working width. The main pattern section repeats rows 3 through 6 a total of 27 times, creating the body of the shawl with consistent increases and lace placement. This methodical approach makes the pattern easy to follow and allows knitters to develop rhythm and confidence as they progress through the project.