Spice Road

Spice Road Shawl by Susanna Winter

What Is Being Made

Spice Road is a three-color knitted shawl designed as an asymmetrical triangle worked from the top down. The pattern offers two size options: Shawl and Shawlette, allowing crafters to choose their preferred finished dimensions. This design celebrates color work through a thoughtful three-color fade that transitions from light to dark or from subtle to saturated tones, making it an ideal project for showcasing gradient yarn palettes or carefully coordinated color combinations.

Techniques Used

This shawl employs several engaging knitting techniques that work together to create visual interest and texture. The garment is worked on the bias, which creates the asymmetrical triangle shape and adds dynamic movement to the finished piece. The pattern features a distinctive sawtooth bind-off that is shaped using short rows, creating a decorative finished edge. Built-in i-cord edgings surround all three edges of the shawl, providing a polished, professional finish. The top-down construction method allows knitters to try on the shawl as they work and adjust the final size if desired.

Stitches Used

• Garter Stitch: Sections of single-color garter stitch form the foundation of the design, creating a soothing, reversible texture that works beautifully in solid colors
• Slip Stitch: Two-color slip-stitch patterning alternates with garter stitch sections, adding textured visual interest and color variation throughout the shawl
• I-Cord: Built-in i-cord edgings are integrated along all three edges for a refined border
• Short Rows: Used to shape the sawtooth bind-off for a decorative finished edge

Notably, this pattern contains no purl stitches, making it accessible to knitters who prefer working primarily with knit stitches and slip stitches. This design choice simplifies the knitting process while maintaining sophisticated texture and color work.

Materials

Spice Road is designed to be worked in light fingering-weight or fingering-weight yarn (3-ply or 4-ply), which creates a delicate, drapey fabric ideal for a shawl. The pattern is written with both metric and US terminology, accommodating international knitters. Only written instructions are provided, making this an excellent project for knitters who prefer text-based patterns. The pattern is also ambidextrous, using neutral handedness expressions so that both right-handed and left-handed knitters can follow the instructions comfortably.

Difficulty Level

Rated as intermediate, Spice Road is suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to expand their technique repertoire. The combination of garter stitch, slip-stitch color work, short-row shaping, and i-cord edging provides engaging challenges without overwhelming newer knitters.