Garden Path

Garden Path Shawlette/Scarf by Brenda Green

What is Being Made

Garden Path is a one-size shawlette/scarf knitted in 4ply or fingering weight yarn. The finished piece measures 29 cm (11 inches) deep at its widest point and 160 cm (63 inches) in length, making it a versatile accessory suitable for draping around the shoulders or wearing as a lightweight scarf.

Construction Method

This shawlette is knitted sideways, meaning the piece is worked from one end to the other horizontally rather than from top to bottom. Sideways construction allows for unique shaping and stitch placement, creating visual interest as the pattern develops across the width of the fabric. The pattern is provided in both written row-by-row instructions and charted format for the straight sections, giving knitters flexibility in how they prefer to follow the pattern.

Stitches and Techniques Used

Garden Path employs a range of intermediate-level knitting techniques that create an elegant, lacy design:

• Yarn overs (yo) – used throughout to create decorative holes and openwork sections that give the shawlette its characteristic delicate appearance
• Knit two together (k2tog) – a right-leaning decrease used to balance yarn overs and shape the piece
• Slip, slip, knit (ssk) – a left-leaning decrease that pairs with k2tog decreases for symmetrical lace patterning
• Purl stitches – incorporated into the pattern to create texture and definition within the lace sections
• Purl through back loop (p1tbl) – adds subtle texture variation
• Purl two together (p2tog) – a decrease worked on purl rows to maintain pattern consistency
• Stitch marker placement – used to track pattern repeats and maintain alignment across rows

The combination of these techniques creates a lacy, openwork pattern with balanced decreases and yarn overs, typical of intermediate-level lace shawl construction.

Materials Required

Yarn: 100 grams (4 ounces) of Happy Go Knitty yarn in 4ply or fingering weight. This yarn is composed of 50% merino wool and 50% silk, a blend that provides both warmth and a luxurious drape ideal for shawlettes. The merino component offers elasticity and breathability, while the silk adds sheen and fluidity to the finished piece.

Needles: 4mm (US size 6) circular needle or a pair of 4mm (US size 6) straight needles. Circular needles are often preferred for shawl construction as they accommodate the increasing number of stitches, though straight needles work equally well for sideways-knitted designs.

Notions and finishing supplies: One stitch marker to help track pattern repeats, a yarn needle for weaving in ends, and blocking pins for blocking the finished shawlette to enhance drape and even out the lace pattern.

Difficulty Level

Garden Path is rated as an intermediate project, making it suitable for knitters with some experience beyond basic knit and purl stitches. The combination of lace techniques, multiple decreases, and pattern reading from both written instructions and charts requires attention to detail and familiarity with yarn overs and their corresponding decreases. The sideways construction adds an additional layer of complexity compared to top-down shawl patterns.