949 Saffron - Shawl Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns 2/10 Merino Tencel

949 Saffron - Asymmetrical Lace Shawl Knitting Pattern

What is Being Made

The 949 Saffron is an elegant women's shawl designed by Julie Turjoman, featuring an asymmetrical silhouette perfect for layering on cool evenings. This knitted wrap measures approximately 20¼ inches wide by 71½ inches long, making it a versatile accessory that drapes beautifully over shoulders or wraps around the body. The shawl showcases a sophisticated double helix lace pattern that combines visual interest with refined elegance.

Techniques and Construction Method

This intermediate-level shawl employs several key knitting techniques to achieve its distinctive appearance and structure:

• Bottom-Up Construction: The shawl is worked from the bottom edge upward, allowing knitters to see the lace pattern develop as they progress through the rows.
• Seamless, Flat Knitting: The entire piece is worked flat on straight needles without seaming, creating a continuous, unified fabric with no interruptions in the lace design.
• Lace Patterning: The double helix lace pattern is the signature element of this design, featuring strategic yarn overs and decreases that create an eye-catching, openwork texture throughout the shawl.

Stitches and Stitch Details

The 949 Saffron utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined in a repeating lace pattern to create its distinctive aesthetic. The pattern incorporates:

• Knit (K) and Purl (P) stitches: These basic stitches form the foundation of the double helix lace pattern.
• Yarn Overs (YO): Strategic yarn overs create the openwork, lacy sections that define the pattern's visual character.
• Decreases: Slip, slip, knit (SSK) and knit two together (K2tog) decreases balance the yarn overs, maintaining stitch count and shaping the lace motifs.

The pattern repeats across rows, with stitch markers used to track pattern repeats and maintain consistency throughout the shawl's construction.

Yarn and Materials

The 949 Saffron is designed to showcase the luxurious qualities of Valley Yarns' Colrain Lace yarn. This lace-weight yarn is a blend of 50% Merino Wool and 50% Tencel, combining natural fibers for exceptional softness and drape. One cone of Colrain Lace provides 1,540 yards of yarn, which is sufficient to complete the entire shawl. The recommended colorway is Honey Gold, which complements the lace pattern beautifully.

Needles and Gauge

This pattern calls for US 4 (3.50 mm) needles, or the size needed to achieve the specified gauge. The recommended gauge is 24 stitches and 30 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) when working the double helix lace pattern on US 4 needles and measuring after blocking. Achieving proper gauge is essential for the shawl to reach its intended finished measurements and for the lace pattern to display correctly.

Skill Level and Pattern Format

Rated as an intermediate-level project, the 949 Saffron is suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are comfortable working lace patterns and managing yarn overs and decreases. The pattern is provided as a downloadable PDF, making it convenient to access and reference during the knitting process. Additional materials needed include stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and a tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends upon completion.