Albemarle

Albemarle Knit Shawl by Kristen Jancuk

Project Overview

The Albemarle is a large, colorful wrap shawl designed by Kristen Jancuk and named after the Albemarle Sound in North Carolina's Outer Banks. This intermediate-level knitting project serves as a larger, more vibrant companion piece to the designer's Currituck Sound shawl. With a finished size of approximately 60 inches long, 40 inches deep, and 72 inches across at the widest point, this is a substantial undertaking requiring nearly 1,000 yards of yarn.

Techniques and Stitches

The Albemarle combines multiple advanced knitting techniques to create visual interest and texture throughout the design. The shawl incorporates slipped stitch patterning, which creates distinctive stitch definition and color blending effects. Fisherman's rib—a dense, squishy stitch structure known for its elasticity and warmth—features prominently in the construction. Brioche knitting, a contemporary favorite among knitters, adds another textural element to the finished piece. These techniques work together to produce a complex, multi-dimensional fabric that showcases the interplay of the three yarn colors.

Yarn and Materials

This shawl is worked in fingering weight yarn, specifically Avalon Springs Farm Love Potion, which is composed of superwash Merino and bamboo fiber. The yarn provides both durability and a luxurious feel. The pattern calls for three coordinating colors: Among Evergreens (C1), Spring Forest (C2), and Rumpelstiltskin (C3), with one skein of each color needed. Each skein contains 555 yards and weighs 4 ounces, providing the approximately 1,000 yards required for the complete project.

Gauge and Finishing

The recommended gauge is 22 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches in the Chart II pattern, measured after washing and blocking. While exact gauge is not critical to the success of the project, variations will affect both the final dimensions of the shawl and the total yardage consumed. Proper blocking is essential to achieve the intended finished measurements and to fully develop the stitch definition created by the slipped stitch, fisherman's rib, and brioche techniques.

Difficulty Level

Rated as an intermediate project, the Albemarle requires solid foundational knitting skills and familiarity with more advanced techniques. Knitters should be comfortable reading charts, managing multiple colors, and executing brioche and fisherman's rib stitches before beginning this pattern.