Ripples Shawl

Ripples Shawl by Julia Marsh

What Is Being Made

The Ripples Shawl is a large triangular or crescent-shaped knitted shawl designed by Julia Marsh. This finished piece measures 190cm (74 inches) long by 35cm (14 inches) wide, making it a generous wrap suitable for layering or draping. The shawl features a distinctive variegated yarn base combined with contrast colour stitches that create ripple effects throughout the fabric, adding visual depth and texture to the finished garment.

Techniques and Construction

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several fundamental and slightly advanced techniques to achieve its rippled appearance. The shawl is constructed using a combination of basic knitting skills and strategic stitch manipulation. The ripple effect is created through the strategic use of contrast colour stitches worked into the variegated main yarn, which creates visual waves and undulating patterns across the fabric.

Key construction techniques include:

• Cast on and cast off – Standard techniques for beginning and finishing the shawl
• Knit and purl stitches – The foundation of the fabric structure
• Knit 2 stitches together (K2tog) – A decrease technique used to shape the shawl and create the ripple formations
• Slip stitches – Used for joining or creating decorative effects
• Knit into the front and back of a stitch (kfb) – An increase technique that adds stitches and contributes to the shaping and ripple pattern

The shawl is worked on a circular needle to accommodate the increasing number of stitches as the piece grows, which is typical for larger triangular or rectangular shawl designs.

Stitches Used

The Ripples Shawl utilizes a straightforward stitch vocabulary appropriate for intermediate knitters. The primary stitches are knit and purl, which form the basic fabric. Increases are worked using the knit into front and back method, while decreases are achieved through knit 2 stitches together. Slip stitches add finishing details and help create clean edges or decorative elements. The combination of these stitches, worked in variegated and contrast colours, produces the signature ripple effect that gives this shawl its name and visual appeal.

Materials and Specifications

The Ripples Shawl is designed to be knitted using a combination of aran and DK weight yarns, providing textural contrast and visual interest.

Yarn Requirements:

• Main Colour (A): 4 balls of Stylecraft Monet aran in shade Giverney #3971 (100g per ball, 183m/200yds per ball) – This variegated yarn forms the primary fabric and provides the base colour variation
• Contrast Colour (B): 1 ball of Stylecraft Classique Cotton DK in shade Grey Blue #3965 (50g per ball, 92m/100yds per ball) – This contrast colour is worked into the main yarn to create ripple effects
• Contrast Colour (C): 1 ball of Stylecraft Classique Cotton DK in shade Ivory #3665 (50g per ball, 92m/100yds per ball) – An additional contrast colour that works with the Grey Blue to enhance the ripple pattern

Needles and Notions:

• One 5.5mm circular knitting needle, 60cm long, to accommodate the increasing stitch count as the shawl grows
• A blunt tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends

Tension: The pattern specifies a tension of 18 stitches and 20 rows over 10cm (4 inches) in stockinette stitch, which is important to achieve the correct finished dimensions of 190cm by 35cm.

The use of Stylecraft Monet aran as the main yarn provides a substantial base with built-in colour variation, while the cotton DK contrast colours add delicate detail and definition to the ripple pattern. This combination of yarn weights and fibre types creates both visual and tactile interest in the finished shawl.