Hearts

Hearts Knitted Shawl by Susan Pandorf

What is Being Made

Hearts is a luxurious knitted stole or wrap designed by independent designer Susan Pandorf. This elegant accessory measures 16 inches wide by 72 inches long when blocked, making it a versatile piece suitable for draping around the shoulders or wearing as a sophisticated wrap. The design features a beautiful lace pattern showcasing heart motifs throughout, creating a romantic and refined aesthetic.

Techniques Used

This advanced-level knitting project employs several sophisticated techniques to achieve its delicate appearance. The shawl features lace knitting, which creates openwork patterns through strategic yarn overs and decreases. Knitters have the option to construct the piece in two different ways: knitting the entire stole in one continuous piece from end to end, or knitting two separate halves and joining them using either grafting or a three-needle bind off at the back of the neck. The choice of construction method affects the orientation of the heart motifs—knitting in one piece results in hearts facing upside down on the left side, while the two-piece method ensures hearts face upright on both sides for symmetrical visual impact.

Stitches Used

The Hearts shawl utilizes a charted lace pattern as its foundation. The pattern begins with a cast on of 77 stitches and follows a detailed chart that specifies stitch placement throughout the project. The construction incorporates yarn overs and decreases characteristic of lace knitting to form the openwork heart design. Each individual heart in the lace pattern blocks to exactly 3 inches wide, providing a clear gauge reference for achieving proper sizing and drape.

Materials

This project requires 3 skeins totaling 780 yards of DK weight yarn. The pattern specifically recommends ARTYARNS Silk Rhapsody or any comparable DK weight yarn, allowing crafters flexibility in fiber choice while maintaining consistent results. Knitters will need US size 5 needles to work the pattern at the specified gauge. The recommended yarn choice of silk-based DK weight contributes to the softness and luxurious drape described as "the softest of wraps" in the pattern notes.

Difficulty Level

This shawl is classified as an advanced knitting project, appropriate for experienced knitters comfortable with reading lace charts, managing multiple stitch techniques simultaneously, and making construction decisions such as choosing between one-piece or two-piece assembly methods.