Warwick

Warwick Shawl by Taiga Hilliard Designs

What is Being Made

Warwick is an adjustable knit shawl featuring a simple and classic lace pattern. The design is versatile and scalable, allowing knitters to work with any yarn weight and customize the finished size to their preferences. The designer chose super bulky yarn for their version, resulting in a quick, satisfying project.

Design Features and Construction

This shawl is constructed from a small cast-on of 11 stitches that expands through strategic increases and lace shaping. The pattern includes a marked center section that creates the shawl's structure, with edge stitches that frame the design. The lace motif is straightforward enough to follow without excessive complexity, making it accessible despite its advanced difficulty rating.

Knitting Techniques Used

The Warwick shawl employs several fundamental knitting techniques to achieve its elegant construction:

• Yarn overs (YO) – Creates the open lace pattern and contributes to the shawl's drape and visual interest
• Knit front and back (KFB) – Used during the cast-on expansion to increase stitches and establish the initial width
• Decrease stitches – Including K4tog and SSSSK (slip, slip, slip, slip, knit), which balance the yarn overs and shape the lace
• Slip, slip, knit (SSK) – A left-leaning decrease used in lace patterns
• Marker placement and slipping – Helps organize the pattern sections and track the center shaping
• Alternating right-side and wrong-side rows – Creates the dimensional fabric structure

Stitches Employed

The pattern uses a combination of basic and intermediate stitches:

• Knit stitch (K) – Forms the stockinette base and edge stitches
• Purl stitch – Creates textural contrast in the marked sections
• Yarn over (YO) – The primary lace-creating stitch
• Knit front and back (KFB) – An increase stitch
• Slip, slip, knit (SSK) – A left-leaning decrease
• K4tog and SSSSK – Multiple-stitch decreases that create dramatic shaping in the lace sections

Materials and Specifications

Yarn: Madelinetosh ASAP in Baltic (the designer's choice for their version)

Yarn Weight: Super bulky (adjustable – the pattern accommodates any yarn weight)

Needles: US size 19 (15.00 mm) or appropriate size to achieve gauge

Gauge: 6.0 stitches = 4 inches

Yardage Required: 180 yards for the designer's version

Pattern Notes and Flexibility

The Warwick shawl's adjustable design is one of its key features. Knitters can modify the project by selecting different yarn weights and needle sizes while maintaining proper gauge. The designer provides a practical tip for managing yardage: weigh the yarn at a midpoint in the project to calculate how much remains for the final edging section. This allows for confident planning and ensures sufficient yarn for completion, even if the total yardage varies from the stated 180 yards.

The pattern begins with a modest 11-stitch cast-on that expands to 19 stitches by the end of the first two rows, establishing the foundation for the lace expansion that follows. The marked sections organize the pattern into manageable segments, making it easier to track increases and decreases across rows.