Colmena Shawl

Colmena Shawl by SambaKnits

What is Being Made

The Colmena Shawl is a triangular shawl with a finished wingspan of 185 cm (74 inches) and a depth of 80 cm (32 inches). This is a sideways knit shawl, worked flat from one tip to the other, making it a versatile accessory suitable for various occasions and styling options.

Knitting Techniques

The Colmena Shawl features a fun and fast-growing construction that is surprisingly easy to memorize despite its intermediate difficulty level. The pattern employs cable stitches as its primary design element, worked throughout the piece to create visual interest and texture. The shawl is worked flat in a sideways direction, which allows for a unique construction method and contributes to the pattern's engaging knitting experience.

Stitches Used

• 2/2LC (Four Stitch Left Leaning Cable): Slip 2 stitches to cable needle and hold in front of work, knit 2 stitches from main needle, then knit 2 stitches from cable needle
• 2/2RC (Four Stitch Right Leaning Cable): Slip 2 stitches to cable needle and hold to back of work, knit 2 stitches from main needle, then knit 2 stitches from cable needle
• CO (Cast On): Used to begin the pattern
• K (Knit): Fundamental stitch used throughout the construction

Materials and Yardage

The Colmena Shawl requires 870 meters (950 yards) of worsted weight yarn. The sample featured in the pattern was knitted using Miss Babs Yarns Big Silk, a blend of 60% Merino wool and 40% cultivated silk, in the colorway Roasted Pumpkin. This yarn comes in 250 gram skeins with approximately 494 meters (540 yards) per skein.

Needles and Gauge

The pattern calls for 5 mm (US 8) needles, or the size needed to obtain the required gauge. Pattern notes indicate that if bind-off stitches tend to be tighter than normal gauge, knitters may wish to consider going up one or two needle sizes for the bind-off edge to ensure consistent tension and a professional finish.

Pattern Format

This is a downloadable PDF pattern designed by the independent designer SambaKnits, making it accessible for immediate download and printing for knitters ready to begin their project.