Malhuer

Malhuer Shawl by Taiga Hilliard Designs

Project Overview

Malhuer is a knitted shawl designed by Taiga Hilliard Designs as a versatile project suitable for both beginners exploring shawl construction and experienced knitters seeking an engaging design. This downloadable PDF pattern offers an accessible entry point into shawl knitting while maintaining enough complexity to hold the interest of more advanced crafters.

Construction Method

The Malhuer shawl is knit sideways, a construction technique that allows the piece to work up quickly and efficiently. This sideways approach means the shawl grows horizontally across the needles rather than from the top down or bottom up, creating a unique fabric development and often resulting in interesting directional stitch patterns.

Stitches and Techniques

This pattern incorporates a variety of fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques:

• KFB (knit front and back) – used for increases throughout the pattern
• M1R and M1L (make one right and make one left) – directional increases that create decorative details
• SSK (slip, slip, knit) – a left-leaning decrease
• K2tog (knit two together) – a right-leaning decrease
• P2tog (purl two together) – decrease used in textured sections
• YO (yarn over) – creates eyelet details and lace elements
• Marker placement and slipping – used to organize stitch sections and maintain pattern symmetry

Yarn and Materials

The Malhuer shawl is worked in worsted weight yarn, specifically using Anzula For Better or Worsted. The pattern requires 660 yards total, making it a substantial but manageable project. Knitting is worked on US size 9 needles (5.00 mm).

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern is worked at a gauge of 16 stitches over 4 inches, which is typical for worsted weight yarn on this needle size. This gauge contributes to the shawl's drape and finished dimensions.

Pattern Structure

The pattern begins with a small cast-on of just 2 stitches, building through systematic increases in the early rows. The design features symmetrical shaping created through paired increases and decreases on either side of a center marker, establishing a balanced construction. Textured sections incorporating yarn overs and decreases create visual interest and lace-like details as the shawl expands.