Monarch

Monarch Shawl by Brian Smith Designs

What is Being Made

The Monarch is a triangular knitted shawl designed as a downloadable PDF pattern by Brian Smith Designs. This intermediate-level project creates a generous wingspan shawl with dramatic dimensions, perfect for adding elegance to any wardrobe. The finished shawl measures 166cm across the wingspan with a depth of 95cm at the widest point, making it a substantial accessory suitable for layering or wearing as a statement piece.

Craft and Techniques

This is a knitting project worked primarily in the round using circular needles. The shawl construction employs several fundamental knitting techniques including increases, decreases, and lace-work elements. The pattern utilizes eyelet stitch as a key design feature, which creates decorative holes throughout the fabric. Knitters will work with directional stitches such as right twists, which add textural interest and shaping to the design. The shawl is worked from a small cast-on and expanded outward through strategic increases, a common construction method for triangular shawls that allows for seamless growth and elegant proportions.

Stitches Used

The Monarch pattern incorporates a variety of essential knitting stitches:

• Knit (K) and Purl (P) stitches form the foundation of the fabric
• Yarn overs (Yo, Yrn, Yf) create the eyelet lace pattern and contribute to the shawl's openwork aesthetic
• Decreases including K2tog (knit two stitches together) and P2tog (purl two stitches together) shape the shawl and balance the yarn overs
• Increases using M1R (make one right) and M1L (make one left) techniques expand the fabric systematically
• Right twist (RT) stitches add texture and visual interest to specific sections
• Slip stitches worked purlwise (Sl1pw) for seamless stitch manipulation

Materials and Gauge

The Monarch is worked in 4-ply yarn weight, specifically using Yarnwhisperer Tarot 4-ply in two coordinating shades: Queen of Coins (A) and Death (B). The pattern requires approximately 91 grams of shade A and 93 grams of shade B, totaling roughly 184 grams of yarn—equivalent to 2 skeins. Knitters will need UK 4mm (US 6) circular needles measuring 120cm in length to accommodate the expanding stitches as the shawl grows.

The pattern is worked to a gauge of 20 stitches and 28 rows over 10 centimeters in the blocked eyelet pattern. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements. Additional notions include two stitch markers to denote pattern sections, waste yarn and a stitch holder for managing stitches during construction, and a blocking kit for finishing, as blocking is necessary to achieve the specified wingspan and depth dimensions.

Pattern Structure

The pattern begins with casting on 10 stitches and knitting 3 rows before establishing marked sections that guide the shawl's expansion. The use of placed markers (PM) helps knitters track increases and pattern repeats throughout the construction. The shawl is worked flat or in the round depending on the pattern sections, with careful attention to right side (RS) and wrong side (WS) rows to maintain pattern integrity. The intermediate difficulty level reflects the need to manage multiple techniques simultaneously while maintaining consistent tension and gauge.