Quirindi Shawl

Quirindi Shawl by Catherine Rein

What is Being Made

The Quirindi is an elegant evening wrap designed by Catherine Rein and published by The Cable & Lace Co. This right-angled triangular shawl serves as a sophisticated accessory for evening wear and special occasions. Named after a country town in New South Wales, Australia, the Quirindi combines beauty with practicality, making it a versatile addition to any wardrobe.

Design and Construction

The shawl features a distinctive right-angled triangular shape that provides elegant draping for evening occasions. One of the key design features is the use of multiple yarn weights worked together to create visual texture and interest throughout the piece. The pattern encourages knitters to combine lace weight yarn (held with 2 strands together), fingering weight, and sports weight yarns, allowing for creative stash-busting and the use of leftover yarn in complementary colors and textures.

Techniques and Stitches Used

The Quirindi incorporates a diverse range of knitting techniques and stitch patterns that keep knitters engaged throughout the project:

• Garter stitch – the fundamental knit stitch creating horizontal ridges
• Twisted stitches – adding subtle texture and visual interest
• Diamond design – a classic lace motif creating geometric patterns
• Moss stitch – a textured stitch combining knit and purl stitches in alternating patterns
• Stockinette stitch – smooth, classic knit fabric
• Wrap knots (2 variations) – decorative techniques adding dimensional detail
• Tulle stitch – a delicate, lacy stitch creating an airy, openwork effect

This combination of techniques ensures the knitter remains engaged with varied stitch work from cast-on through bind-off, creating a dynamic and interesting knitting experience.

Yarn and Materials

The Quirindi is designed to work with sport weight and 4-ply yarn, offering flexibility in yarn selection. Knitters may choose to work with a single yarn weight throughout or combine multiple weights as suggested in the pattern. This versatility makes the design ideal for using up leftover yarns from previous projects, allowing crafters to transform yarn scraps into a beautiful finished garment.

Skill Level

Rated as intermediate difficulty, the Quirindi is suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to expand their technical repertoire. The pattern's variety of stitches and techniques provides an excellent opportunity to develop proficiency with lace work, textured stitches, and decorative knitting methods.