Stegosaurus

Stegosaurus Shawl by Carissa Browning

Project Overview

Stegosaurus is a center-out, crescent-shaped knitted shawl designed by Carissa Browning that draws inspiration from the iconic dinosaur's most recognizable feature: the large hexagonal plates along its spine. This intermediate-level knitting project transforms the prehistoric creature's distinctive silhouette into a wearable accessory, featuring a scale-like lace pattern that echoes the geometric quality of the dinosaur's plates.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a single crescent-shaped shawl worked from the center outward. The finished shawl measures 50 inches in span with a height of 14 inches at the center point, making it a substantial but versatile accessory suitable for layering or wearing as a statement piece. The crescent shape and center-out construction method allow for a naturally elegant drape.

Techniques Used

• Center-out construction: The shawl is worked from the center point outward, a technique that creates organic shaping and allows for adjustable sizing by working additional pattern repeats
• Lace knitting: A scale-like lace pattern creates visual texture and lightness throughout the design, inspired by the overlapping quality of dinosaur scales
• Increases and decreases: Strategic shaping through knit and purl decreases (K3tog, P3tog, ssk, ssp) and increases (kfb, yarn overs, and KYK increases) creates the crescent silhouette
• Charted pattern work: The design uses a stitch chart for the Spade Lace Stitch pattern, which repeats over a multiple of 20 stitches

Stitches Used

This intermediate pattern employs a variety of essential knitting techniques. Yarn overs (yo) create the openwork lace effect throughout the design. Decrease stitches include knit three together (K3tog), purl three together (P3tog), slip-slip-knit (ssk), and slip-slip-purl (ssp), all of which help shape the shawl and create the lace pattern's visual interest. Increase stitches include knit into front and back (kfb) and the KYK technique, which creates three stitches from one stitch. The primary stitch pattern is the Spade Lace Stitch, which requires reading and following a charted pattern.

Materials and Specifications

The Stegosaurus shawl is designed to be worked in 4-ply yarn weight (also called fingering weight), specifically using Miss Babs Yummy 2-Ply in the colorway French Marigold. This yarn is composed of 100% merino wool and provides 366 meters (400 yards) per 113-gram skein, with only one skein required to complete the project. The pattern calls for a US #6/4mm circular needle and a tapestry needle for finishing. The recommended gauge is 20 stitches and 27 rows over 4 inches when working the Spade Lace Stitch pattern.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate, making it suitable for knitters with some experience who are comfortable reading charted lace patterns, executing various decrease techniques, and managing center-out shawl construction. The combination of lace work, multiple decrease types, and pattern reading requires solid foundational skills.