Stoer Shawl

Stoer Shawl by Emily K Williams

What is Being Made

The Stoer Shawl is a generously sized three-colour wrap designed as an advanced knitting project. With a finished wingspan of 264 cm (104 inches) and depth of 45 cm (17.75 inches), this shawl offers substantial coverage while remaining light and wearable. The design combines multiple knitting techniques to create visual and textural interest throughout the piece, making it suitable for both practical winter wear and as a showcase of advanced knitting skills.

Construction and Design Approach

Despite its complex appearance with multiple design elements, the Stoer Shawl is worked in a modular, strip-by-strip construction method. This approach minimizes weaving in ends, making the finishing process more manageable than traditional all-in-one shawl designs. The modular structure also allows for customization—knitters working in milder climates can reduce the number of crescents per strip to create a smaller finished shawl.

Techniques Used

• Lace - Openwork sections add delicate visual interest and contribute to the shawl's light, airy drape
• Stripes - Colour work throughout the three-colour design creates pattern definition and visual movement
• Garter stitch - Provides textural contrast and structural stability within the design
• Short rows - Used to shape the shawl's crescents and create the three-dimensional wrap structure

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The pattern employs a combination of fundamental and intermediate stitch techniques. Lace stitches create openwork sections, while garter stitch (knit every row) provides textured, reversible fabric. Short-row shaping is used to construct the crescent-shaped modular sections that build the overall wrap. The combination of these techniques creates a garment with varied texture and visual complexity suitable for an advanced knitter.

Yarn and Materials

The Stoer Shawl is designed for sport weight yarn, worked at a loose gauge to achieve its characteristic drape and lightness. The pattern requires three colours of yarn:

• Main Colour (MC): 265 metres / 290 yards
• Contrast Colour 1 (CC1): 280 metres / 306 yards
• Contrast Colour 2 (CC2): 350 metres / 383 yards

The sample shawl was knitted using Ripplescrafts Cochrane, a lofty British breed blend yarn composed of 50% Bowmont and 50% Bluefaced Leicester, available in 350 metre (383 yard) skeins per 100 grams. The designer recommends selecting a lofty woollen spun yarn that will provide body and drape at the stated gauge. This yarn choice contributes to the shawl's warm yet lightweight character, making it ideal for winter wear while remaining comfortable in milder climates. The lofty construction of the yarn adds volume and insulation without excessive weight, creating a cozy wrap suitable for snuggling during windy winter days.