Iszara

Iszara Shawl by Melanie Berg

What is Being Made

Iszara is a striped, semi-circular shawl designed by independent knitter Melanie Berg. This eye-catching accessory features bold color blocking and is ideal for knitters seeking to showcase creative or unconventional color combinations. The finished shawl measures 84 inches (213.5 cm) across the wingspan along the top edge and 15 inches (38 cm) long at the center, making it a substantial wrap suitable for layering or draping.

Techniques Used

The primary technique employed in Iszara is intarsia knitting, a method for incorporating multiple colors into a knitted fabric while maintaining clean color transitions. Melanie Berg has designed this shawl to make intarsia accessible to intermediate-level knitters by simplifying the execution. The intarsia technique in this project requires twisting yarns at color changes that occur mid-row. When transitioning from one color to another, the new working yarn is placed under the old working yarn to trap the previous color between the new yarn and the knitting surface. This prevents holes and floating strands while creating distinct color blocks. The ends are then pulled snug to secure the twist.

Stitches Used

Iszara is worked entirely in garter stitch, the most fundamental knitting stitch. Garter stitch is created by knitting every row (when working flat) or alternating knit and purl rounds (when working in the round). This stitch creates a textured, reversible fabric with horizontal ridges and is prized for its simplicity, elasticity, and visual texture. The garter stitch base provides an ideal canvas for the intarsia color work, as the stitch structure remains consistent throughout the color changes and allows the striped pattern to stand out prominently.

Materials

Iszara is knitted using Finch yarn by Quince & Co., a 4-ply weight yarn composed of 100% American wool. Each skein contains 221 yards (202 meters) and weighs 50 grams. The pattern requires 4 skeins of Kittywake 125 (Main Color) and 1 skein of Carrie's Yellow 125 (Contrast Color). The shawl is worked on one 40-inch circular needle, which accommodates the semi-circular construction and expanding stitch count as the shawl grows from the top edge downward.

Difficulty Level

This project is rated as intermediate difficulty. While garter stitch itself is beginner-friendly, the intarsia technique requires intermediate-level skills and attention to detail. However, Melanie Berg's design demystifies intarsia by breaking it into simple, repeatable steps that intermediate knitters can confidently execute.