Deep Water

Deep Water Knitted Block Shawl by Sharon Mooney

What is Being Made

Deep Water is a knitted block shawl design created by independent designer Sharon Mooney. This downloadable PDF pattern produces a generously sized triangular shawl with asymmetrical proportions, measuring 60 inches (152.4 cm) along the top edge and 57 inches (144.8 cm) along the bottom edge. The shawl features varying depth across its width, ranging from 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) at the outer left edge to 20 inches (50.8 cm) at the outer right edge, creating an elegant, draped silhouette suitable for wrapping and styling versatility.

Techniques and Construction Methods

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several advanced techniques to achieve its sophisticated finished appearance. The pattern incorporates bead embellishment as a key design element, requiring the knitter to use a crochet hook or specialized beading tool to integrate glass beads directly into the fabric. The construction method utilizes circular knitting needles for working flat, a common technique for large shawl projects that provides stability and even tension distribution across the substantial width of the garment. The asymmetrical shaping is achieved through strategic increases and decreases worked throughout the piece, allowing the knitter to create the distinctive triangular form with its varied depth measurements.

The pattern includes comprehensive abbreviations and detailed stitch terminology to guide knitters through each row. Ring stitch markers and locking stitch markers are essential tools for tracking pattern repeats and maintaining stitch counts across the numerous stitches involved in this large-scale project.

Stitches and Stitch Work

The Deep Water shawl is worked primarily in stockinette stitch (also called stocking stitch), creating a smooth, classic fabric base that allows the bead work and shaping to take visual prominence. The pattern requires careful attention to stitch placement and counting, with the gauge established at 6.5 stitches and 7.75 rows per inch in stockinette stitch on the flat before blocking. The beading technique involves hooking individual glass beads onto the working yarn using a crochet hook method, integrating 429 glass beads throughout the design in a coordinated placement pattern.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The shawl is designed to be completed with approximately one skein of Woolen Boon "Boon Classic" yarn in the colorway Blueberry Jam. This yarn is composed of 100% Superwash Merino fiber, offering softness, breathability, and easy care properties ideal for a luxury shawlette. The single skein provides 435 yards (397.8 meters) of yardage and weighs 3.5 ounces (100 grams), classified as 4-ply weight yarn, which produces a refined drape suitable for shawl construction.

The pattern specifies two sizes of circular knitting needles: US 8/5mm needles (32 inches/80 cm length) for the initial cast-on process, and US 6/4mm needles (32 inches/80 cm length) for working the main body of the shawl. The smaller needle size creates the appropriate gauge for the finished fabric. Additional materials include 24 ring stitch markers and 49 locking stitch markers for pattern tracking, a yarn needle or large embroidery needle for weaving in ends, 429 Miyuki 6/0 glass beads in color deep opaque red (#407A) for beadwork embellishment, and a US 13/14 steel crochet hook or Fleegle Beader tool for hooking beads onto the yarn during construction.