Sidekick

Sidekick Shawl by Susanne Sommer

What is Being Made

The Sidekick is a fully reversible asymmetrical triangular shawl designed to function as a versatile layering piece. According to the designer's vision, a shawl should keep you warm, safe, and happy while either blending seamlessly into your comfort color wardrobe or serving as an unexpected statement piece in your outfit. This large shawl works equally well draped casually over jeans and an oversized coat or styled as a focal point of your ensemble.

Construction Method

This shawl is knit sideways, meaning the knitter works from one edge toward the opposite edge rather than from the top down or bottom up. This construction method allows for interesting stitch pattern variations and creates the asymmetrical triangular shape. The sideways approach also makes it easier to manage the shawl's growing width as you progress through the pattern.

Stitch Techniques and Pattern Elements

The Sidekick incorporates several distinct knitting techniques that create visual interest and texture:

• Two-Color Brioche Stitch Sections: The shawl features alternating sections of brioche knitting worked in two colors. Brioche stitch creates a textured, elastic fabric with a distinctive lifted appearance. In each brioche section, the front and background colors are switched, allowing both colors to share the spotlight and creating a dynamic reversible effect.
• Contrasting Short-Row Sections: Between the brioche sections, contrasting panels are created using short-rows worked in garter stitch. Short-rows are partial rows that don't span the entire width of the piece, creating shaping and directional changes in the fabric.
• Garter Stitch: Garter stitch, created by knitting every row, forms the base of the short-row sections and provides a textured, reversible fabric that complements the brioche sections.
• Garter Lace: The final short-row panel is worked in simple garter lace, combining the texture of garter stitch with lace openings. This technique adds lightness and airiness to the large shawl while maintaining structural integrity.
• Applied I-Cord Border: An i-cord border is applied around the perimeter of the shawl. The i-cord is worked in two colors: solid color on two edges and as a striped i-cord along the lace section. An i-cord is a narrow tube of knitting typically worked on two double-pointed needles, creating a neat, finished edge.

Yarn and Materials

The Sidekick is worked in 4-ply yarn weight, which provides a balanced thickness suitable for creating defined stitch patterns while remaining lightweight enough for a shawl. The sample was knit using yarn from Bunte Kumpels by Quiltzauberei, a small German independent dyer, in three colors: turquoise, white, and blue. This yarn choice demonstrates how indie-dyed yarns can enhance the visual impact of complex stitch patterns through color play.

Reversibility and Design

A key feature of the Sidekick is that it is fully reversible. The combination of brioche stitch sections where colors are switched, garter stitch panels, and the applied i-cord border means the shawl looks intentional and finished on both sides. This reversibility adds versatility to the finished piece, allowing you to wear it with either side facing outward depending on your outfit or preference.

Skill Level

The Sidekick is rated as a beginner difficulty project. Despite incorporating multiple techniques including brioche stitch, short-rows, lace, and i-cord application, the pattern is designed to be accessible to knitters new to these methods. The sideways construction and clear stitch pattern sections make it an excellent project for developing skills in intermediate techniques while remaining manageable for those beginning their knitting journey.