Tarma Shawl in Rowan Alpaca Classic - Downloadable PDF

Tarma Shawl in Rowan Alpaca Classic – Knitting Pattern Summary

The Tarma Shawl is an elegant, intermediate-level knitting pattern designed by Lisa Richardson and published by Rowan. Available as a downloadable PDF, this pattern produces a beautifully draped shawl or wrap measuring an impressive 200 cm in its completed form, making it a generously sized accessory suitable for wrapping, draping over the shoulders, or wearing as a statement piece.

What Is Being Made

The Tarma Shawl is a large, flowing shawl or wrap designed to showcase an intricate lace and eyelet stitch pattern. The finished piece is photographed in Berry Sorbet 125, a rich, jewel-toned colorway that highlights the delicate texture created by the pattern's repeating lace motifs. The shawl's substantial finished size of 200 cm makes it a versatile and luxurious accessory for a wide range of occasions.

Materials Used

• Yarn: Rowan Alpaca Classic, a DK weight yarn, used in 12 x 25gm balls. The pattern sample is worked in Berry Sorbet 125. Rowan Alpaca Classic is known for its soft, lightweight handle and subtle sheen, making it an ideal choice for lace shawl knitting.
• Needles: A single pair of 3¾mm (UK No. 9 / US 5) knitting needles.

Tension

The pattern specifies a tension of 22 stitches and 33 rows to 10 cm, measured over the stitch pattern using 3¾mm (US 5) needles. Achieving the correct tension is particularly important for a large project like this shawl, as even a small deviation can significantly affect the finished dimensions.

Techniques Used

The Tarma Shawl is rated as an intermediate difficulty project, making it well suited to knitters who are comfortable with basic lace techniques and are ready to work with decreases and yarn-overs in combination. The pattern involves a structured lace repeat worked over multiple rows, with deliberate stitch decreases built into every row to shape the shawl as it progresses. This means the knitter must maintain careful stitch counts throughout, as the total number of stitches reduces incrementally with each row worked.

• Shaping through consistent decreasing: Every row in the main pattern section reduces the stitch count by one, creating the shawl's characteristic tapered or triangular silhouette. For example, the pattern moves from 437 stitches down through 436, 435, 434, and so on across the repeat sequence.
• Lace eyelet construction: Yarn-overs are paired with decreases to create the open, lacy fabric that defines the Tarma Shawl's visual character. The interplay of increases and decreases maintains the fabric's structure while producing decorative holes.
• Long repeat sequences: The core stitch pattern spans Rows 3 to 10 and is repeated 53 times in total, requiring patience and consistent attention to pattern placement.

Stitches Used

The Tarma Shawl draws on a combination of classic knitting stitches, many of which are fundamental to lace knitting. Knitters working this pattern will use:

• K2tog (knit two together): A right-leaning decrease used frequently throughout the pattern to reduce stitch counts and shape the lace motifs.
• P2tog (purl two together): A purl-side decrease used on wrong-side rows to continue the shaping.
• P2tog tbl (purl two together through the back loop): A left-leaning purl decrease that mirrors the directional decreases on the knit side, creating balanced lace shaping.
• yfwd (yarn forward): A yarn-over on knit rows that creates the characteristic eyelet holes of the lace pattern.
• yrn (yarn round needle): A yarn-over used on purl rows to create eyel