Solar Wave Shawl in Cascade 220 Superwash Wave - W732 - Downloadable PDF
By Cascade Yarns
What you'll need
Solar Wave Shawl in Cascade 220 Superwash Wave – Pattern Summary (W732)
The Solar Wave Shawl is a beautifully structured, crescent-inspired knitted shawl designed by Shannon Dunbabin and published by Cascade Yarns®. This intermediate-level knitting pattern (style code W732) is available as a free downloadable PDF and produces a graceful, asymmetrical shawl with a distinctive lace edging that evokes the radiating warmth of sunlight — perfectly suited to its colorway name, Solar.
The finished shawl measures 32 inches across the top edge, 65 inches along the bottom edge, and 17 inches in height, making it a generously sized wrap ideal for draping over the shoulders or wearing as a lightweight scarf. Its elongated bottom edge gives it an elegant, flowing silhouette that works beautifully in both casual and dressy settings.
Materials Used
- Yarn: Cascade Yarns® 220 Superwash Wave — 100% Superwash Wool, 100 g (3.5 oz) per skein, 220 yards (200 m) per skein
- Color: Color #108 (Solar) — a warm, sun-inspired colorway that complements the wave-like lace motif
- Quantity: 3 skeins required
- Needles: US 7 circular knitting needles
- Notions: Stitch markers and a yarn needle for finishing
- Yarn Weight: Worsted
220 Superwash Wave is a worsted-weight yarn with a superwash treatment, meaning it is machine washable — a practical advantage for a wearable accessory like a shawl. The yarn's smooth, consistent texture allows the lace and garter stitch details to show clearly and crisp up beautifully after blocking.
Gauge
The pattern calls for a gauge of 16 stitches by 25 rows in Garter stitch on US 7 needles. Achieving the correct gauge is important for matching the stated finished dimensions of the shawl.
Construction and Structure
The Solar Wave Shawl is worked flat on circular needles and is built in three distinct sections, each contributing to the shawl's final shape and texture:
- Solar Wave Edging (Set-Up Section): The shawl begins by casting on 22 stitches. A 10-row set-up repeat establishes the signature lace edging pattern, incorporating yarn overs and bind-offs to create the characteristic wave shape along the lower border. A stitch marker is placed early on to separate the body stitches from the edging stitches, a division that is maintained throughout the entire construction.
- Increase Section: Worked a total of 9 times, this 10-row repeat mirrors the edging pattern while adding 5 stitches per repeat through yarn-over increases on right-side rows. This gradually widens the shawl body, growing it from the initial stitch count to 71 stitches. The increases are worked at the beginning of odd-numbered rows, creating a clean, angled edge along the top of the shawl.
- Center Section: Once the desired width is reached, the pattern transitions to a center section that maintains the stitch count without further increases, continuing the lace edging repeat to extend the length of the shawl while keeping the body stable.
Techniques and Stitches Used
This pattern is classified as intermediate in difficulty, making it well suited to knitters who are comfortable with basic lace construction and shaping. The techniques and stitches featured include:
- Garter Stitch — the primary stitch used throughout the shawl body; created by knitting every row, it produces a squishy, ridged fabric with excellent drape
- Yarn Over (YO) — used both as a decorative lace element in the edging and as a shaping increase in the body of the shawl
Specifications
| Brand: | Cascade Yarns |
| Yarn Weight: | Worsted |
| Featured Products: | Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash® Wave |
| Needles Required: | 4.50mm (US 7) Circular Needles |
| Finished Size: | 32" x 17" |
| Pages: | 4 |
| Designer: | Shannon Dunbabin |
| Craft: | Knitting |
| Format: | Downloadable PDF |
| Languages: | English |
| Number of Patterns: | 1 |
| Skill Level: | Intermediate |