Féile

Féile Shawl by Justyna Lorkowska

What is Being Made

Féile is a knitted shawl designed by Justyna Lorkowska. This downloadable knitting pattern produces a triangular or crescent-shaped shawl measuring approximately 200 cm (79 inches) wide and 50 cm (20 inches) long at the center, making it an elegant accessory suitable for layering or draping.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as beginner-friendly, making it an accessible project for knitters new to shawl construction. The straightforward stitch patterns and clear row-by-row instructions allow newer crafters to build confidence while creating a sophisticated finished piece.

Knitting Techniques Used

Féile employs several fundamental knitting techniques that build foundational skills:

• Increases: The pattern uses the kfb (knit through front and back loop) method to create yarn-overs and shaping, with increases occurring on all right-side rows to establish the shawl's expanding triangular form
• Slip stitches: Slipped stitches worked with yarn in back (wyb) create textural interest and help define stitch patterns throughout the design
• Two-color knitting: The pattern incorporates color changes using a main color (MC) and contrasting color (CC), allowing knitters to practice managing multiple yarns and creating visual depth
• Repeat patterns: Structured repeating sequences of knit and slip stitches form the core of the stitch pattern, developing rhythm and consistency in tension

Stitches Used

The Féile pattern uses a limited, beginner-appropriate stitch vocabulary:

• Knit stitch (k): The foundational stitch forming the base of all knitted fabric
• Knit front and back (kfb): An increase method that creates two stitches from one, essential for the shawl's expanding dimensions
• Slip stitch (sl1 st wyb): Stitches slipped with yarn held in back, creating visual texture and pattern definition without adding bulk
• Bind off (BO) and cast on (CO): Standard techniques for beginning and finishing the knitted piece

Materials and Yarn Specifications

Féile is designed for 4-ply yarn weight, a medium-weight yarn that provides excellent stitch definition and drape. The pattern calls for one skein each in two colors of Fade St 4ply by Townhouse Yarns. This yarn is composed of 70% merino wool and 30% silk, offering softness, breathability, and a subtle sheen. Each 100-gram skein contains 400 meters (437 yards) of yarn, providing ample yardage for the complete shawl.

The pattern features the colorways Phoenix (main color) and Too Rouge (contrasting color) in the photographed example, though knitters may select any two complementary colors from the Fade St 4ply range or substitute compatible 4-ply yarns from other manufacturers.

Pattern Structure

The Féile pattern is organized as a downloadable PDF document created by Lete's Knits in 2017. The pattern includes comprehensive abbreviations, row-by-row instructions with right-side and wrong-side designations, and clear stitch counts after each color section. The systematic approach of working rows in pairs and breaking colors at designated points makes the pattern easy to follow and ideal for building knitting competency.