Waves Gone BY

Waves Gone By Shawl by Petra Christel Breakstone

Project Overview

Waves Gone By is a beginner-friendly knitted shawl design created by independent designer Petra Christel Breakstone. This downloadable PDF pattern invites knitters to participate in a knit-a-long (KAL) community project, producing a unique triangular shawl with beautiful flowing lines and visual interest despite its straightforward construction. The shawl's unusual shaping allows for versatile wearing options, making it a practical and stylish accessory.

What Is Being Made

A triangular shawl featuring a wave-like motif that creates the visual impression of waves coming and going across the fabric. The shawl is worked on circular needles using a back-and-forth construction method, resulting in a garment that measures approximately 52 inches by 20 inches at its widest point when blocked on smaller needles, or 56.5 inches by 21 inches when worked on larger needles. The unusual shaping of this design provides flexibility in how the finished shawl can be styled and worn.

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs fundamental knitting techniques suitable for advanced beginners. The shawl is constructed using circular needles worked in a flat, back-and-forth method rather than in the round. Yarn overs are used to create the lacy, wave-like texture and shaping throughout the design. The pattern includes increases created through yarn overs and decreases worked through knit two stitches together, which work together to form the distinctive wave pattern and triangular silhouette. Blocking is an essential finishing step to achieve the final measurements and to fully develop the shawl's flowing characteristics.

Stitches and Abbreviations

The pattern uses basic knitting stitches that form the foundation of the wave design:

• Knit (K) – the fundamental knit stitch
• Purl (P) – the fundamental purl stitch
• Yarn Over (YO) – creates decorative holes and serves as an increase
• Knit Two Together (K2tog) – a right-leaning decrease
• Cast On (co) – the foundation row of stitches

Materials and Specifications

Yarn: The pattern calls for 1 skein of hand-dyed Ultra Soft Merino Superwash in Fingering Weight from HauteKnitYarn, totaling 490 yards. This 4-ply yarn weight provides excellent stitch definition while remaining soft and comfortable against the skin.

Needles: A 24-inch circular needle is required. The pattern offers two options: US size 7 (4.5mm) needles for a smaller, more fitted shawl, or US size 9 (5.5mm) needles for a larger, more open and lacy version. The choice of needle size significantly impacts the final dimensions and drape of the finished shawl.

Format: This is a written pattern provided as a downloadable PDF, making it accessible for digital devices and printable for reference while knitting.

Difficulty Level

Rated as Advanced Beginner, this pattern is designed for knitters who have mastered basic knit and purl stitches and are ready to work with yarn overs and decreases. The straightforward construction and lack of complicated stitch patterns make it an ideal project for developing skills in shaping and texture creation without overwhelming complexity.