"Diabolical"

Diabolical Triangular Shawlette by Threebagsfulled

What is Being Made

Diabolical is an original triangular shawlette design created by Threebagsfulled (Hilary Designs). This is a sophisticated accessory piece that combines elegant construction with advanced knitting techniques. The shawlette features an unconventional architectural approach that sets it apart from traditional triangular shawl patterns.

Construction and Techniques

This pattern employs a distinctive multi-directional construction method that creates visual interest and structural complexity. The shawlette is built in three distinct sections, each worked from a different direction:

• Right-hand side: Worked first as the foundation of the piece
• Left-hand side: Created by picking up stitches along the spine (center edge) of the first section, with the stitch direction intentionally reversed to create a mirror effect
• Bottom border: Completed by picking up stitches across the bottom edge to frame the triangular shape

This turning and directional shifting technique requires careful attention to stitch orientation and creates a sophisticated design where the pattern flows differently across each section of the shawlette. The pattern instructions emphasize the importance of understanding how stitches are slipped in different ways throughout various sections, indicating intricate stitch manipulation.

Stitches and Stitch Work

The pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined with more advanced techniques. Core stitches employed include:

• Knit (K) and purl (P) stitches as foundational elements
• Slip stitches (sl1) used strategically throughout, with variations in slipping technique between pattern sections
• Knit front and back (kf&b) for increases
• Cast on (c/o) and bind off (b/o) techniques for edge finishing

The advanced difficulty rating reflects the complexity of managing directional changes, multiple stitch manipulation techniques, and the precision required when picking up stitches along edges to maintain pattern continuity.

Materials and Yarn Requirements

This pattern is designed for 4-ply (fingering weight) yarn, offering a delicate drape suitable for a shawlette. The designer recommends erring on the side of having excess yardage to accommodate different knitting tensions.

Yarn options include:

• Wolle's Color Changing Cotton (100 gms, 480 yards) as the primary suggestion, which adds visual complexity through gradual color shifts
• An additional 50-gram solid color skein recommended for knitters who work with a loose gauge, providing supplementary yardage
• Any long, slow color-changing fingering weight yarn in the 480–600 yard range as an alternative

Required needles and notions:

• Size 6 circular needles in both 24-inch and 40-inch lengths (both lengths are necessary for managing stitches at different stages of construction)
• Stitch markers for tracking pattern sections and directional changes
• Tapestry needle for weaving in ends and finishing

The requirement for two different circular needle lengths accommodates the shawlette's construction method, where stitch counts vary significantly between sections as the piece grows from the initial right-hand side through the picked-up sections.

Difficulty Level

Rated as advanced, this pattern is best suited for experienced knitters who are comfortable with directional stitch work, picking up stitches along edges, and managing pattern changes. The multi-directional construction and emphasis on precise stitch orientation require strong foundational knitting skills and the ability to read and adapt to pattern instructions that shift between sections.