Springish

Springish Shawl by Kirsti Johanson

What is Being Made

Springish is an advanced-level knitted shawl designed by Kirsti Johanson as part of the Travelling Stitch Sisters collection, a series of cozy patterns inspired by travel and place. This shawl celebrates the arrival of spring, capturing the delightful moment when green shoots emerge through snow and frozen earth to bloom anew. The design features shoulder-hugging shaping and delicate flower motifs at the neckline, creating a lovely lacey piece that combines structural shaping with decorative elements.

Design Features and Inspiration

The Springish shawl draws inspiration from the annual spring season and the breathless moments of delight that accompany new growth. The designer incorporated hand-dyed yarn to enhance the seasonal theme, and the pattern includes an edging where a small bud of spring peeks out in each arch, echoing the delicate flower detail at the neckline. This thoughtful design approach transforms a functional garment into a wearable celebration of seasonal renewal.

Knitting Techniques Used

This advanced pattern employs several key knitting techniques to achieve its distinctive appearance. The shawl utilizes travelling stitches between markers, which create visual interest and directional stitch patterns throughout the piece. The construction includes shoulder-hugging shaping to ensure a flattering fit, and lacey edging that incorporates cable stitches and decorative elements. The designer recommends binding off with a needle several sizes larger than the working needle to keep the bind-off edge flexible and stretchy, a technique that prevents a tight, restrictive edge on the finished shawl.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined in strategic ways to create texture and visual impact:

• Knit (k) – the basic knit stitch forming the foundation of the fabric
• Purl (p) – used to create textural contrast and definition
• Slip one knitwise (sl1k) – a technique for creating clean edges and transitioning between stitch patterns
• Cable two stitches with a right cross (c2r) – a cable stitch that creates the decorative lacey elements and bud details in the edging

These stitches are worked between stitch markers, allowing the knitter to track pattern repeats and shaping increases or decreases with precision.

Materials Required

The Springish shawl is designed to be worked with fingering weight yarn, specifically Kimmet Croft Merino Light, which provides approximately 550 yards of yardage per 4 ounces. The pattern calls for US 6 circular knitting needles as the primary working needles, with the recommendation to use needles several sizes larger (such as US 8 or 9) for the bind-off to maintain flexibility. Additional materials include stitch markers to track pattern repeats and shaping throughout the construction. The use of merino wool yarn provides softness and breathability, making this shawl suitable for layering during transitional spring weather.