Bracket form

Bracket Form Shawl by Meghan Jackson

What is Being Made

Bracket Form is a customizable knit shawl designed by Meghan Jackson, inspired by the natural forms of bracket fungi. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a triangular shawl with a finished sample size of 35 inches (89 cm) across the top edge and 12.5 inches (32 cm) deep at the widest point. The shawl's dimensions are customizable, allowing knitters to adjust the finished size according to their preferences and yarn availability.

Design Inspiration and Aesthetic

The Bracket Form shawl features a distinctive design that reflects the organic shapes of bracket mushrooms through a swirly bias-knit construction. This thoughtful design approach creates visual movement and interest in the finished garment, making it a striking accessory piece that celebrates natural forms.

Knitting Techniques Used

The primary technique employed in this shawl is bias knitting, which creates the characteristic diagonal flow and swirling effect throughout the piece. Bias knitting involves working stitches at an angle to the fabric's edge, producing a fabric that naturally drapes and moves. This technique, combined with the shawl's triangular construction, creates a garment with excellent flow and wearability.

Stitches Used

The Bracket Form shawl is constructed primarily using garter stitch, one of the most fundamental and versatile knitting stitches. Garter stitch is created by knitting every row, resulting in a fabric with horizontal ridges on both sides. This stitch choice provides excellent texture, stability, and visual interest while remaining accessible to intermediate knitters. The garter stitch base allows the bias construction and swirly design elements to take center stage visually.

Materials and Yarn Requirements

The Bracket Form shawl is worked on US #4 (3.5 mm) circular needles measuring 32 inches or longer, or a needle size adjusted to achieve proper gauge. The recommended yarn is Malabrigo Sock, a premium superwash merino wool yarn offering 440 yards (400 meters) per 100-gram skein. The sample shown uses the colorway Frank Ochre, requiring one full skein of yarn. Malabrigo Sock's 100% superwash merino fiber provides excellent elasticity, softness, and durability, making it ideal for shawlettes and triangular shawls that benefit from the yarn's natural stretch and recovery.

Gauge Information

The working gauge for this project is 24 stitches and 40 rows per 4 inches (10 cm) in garter stitch after blocking. The pattern notes indicate that gauge is not critical to the project's success, though variations in gauge and yarn substitutions may affect the final yardage requirements and shawl dimensions. The finished size may also vary depending on how severely the completed shawl is blocked during finishing.

Pattern Format and Designer Information

Bracket Form is available as a downloadable PDF pattern from independent designer Meghan Jackson. The pattern was originally published in 2014 and is distributed through her website ButterflyKnit (butterflyknit.ca). This intermediate-level design offers knitters an opportunity to explore bias-knit construction and create a nature-inspired accessory with customizable dimensions.