Westside

Westside Crescent Shawl by Taiga Hilliard Designs

What is Being Made

Westside is a crescent-shaped knitted shawl designed by Taiga Hilliard Designs. This downloadable knitting pattern creates a versatile accessory that displays beautifully in solid colorways or multi-color variations. The shawl is reversible, with both the right side and wrong side presenting attractive finished appearances, making it an elegant choice for various styling preferences.

Yarn Requirements

The yardage needed varies depending on the colorway chosen:

• Solid version: 600 yards total
• Two-tone version: 470 yards of main color and 130 yards of contrast color
• Rainbow version: 470 yards of main color plus small quantities of additional colors (13 yards color A, 13 yards color B, 17 yards color C, 17 yards color D, 21 yards color E, 30 yards color F, and 32 yards color G)

The pattern features yardage specifications using OOAKKnits Merino Light and Madelinetosh Merino Light yarns, though any appropriate yarn weight may be substituted.

Needles and Gauge

This pattern calls for US size 6 needles (4.00 mm) or the needle size required to achieve proper gauge. The recommended gauge is 18.0 stitches and 36 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch. Knitters should swatch and adjust needle size as necessary to match this gauge for accurate finished dimensions.

Knitting Techniques Used

Westside employs several intermediate to advanced knitting techniques that create its distinctive textured appearance and crescent shaping:

• Garter stitch ridges: The foundational texture created by knitting every row, producing horizontal ridges that give the shawl its characteristic squishy, dimensional fabric
• Short rows: Strategic short-row shaping (using wrap and turn techniques) creates the crescent silhouette without requiring complex decreasing or increasing across all stitches
• Eyelet rows: Decorative openwork rows that add visual interest and breathability to the finished shawl

Stitches and Abbreviations

The pattern uses standard knitting abbreviations and techniques:

• K: Knit stitch
• YO: Yarn over—a decorative increase that creates eyelets and lace effects
• KFB: Knit into the front and back of the same stitch, creating two stitches from one and adding width to the shawl
• K2tog: Knit two stitches together, a basic right-leaning decrease
• W&T: Wrap and turn—a short-row technique where a stitch is wrapped and the work is turned to create shaping without visible holes
• RS: Right side of the fabric
• WS: Wrong side of the fabric

Difficulty Level

This pattern is classified as advanced, reflecting the use of short-row shaping and wrap-and-turn techniques. While the individual stitches are fundamental, the construction method and stitch manipulation require solid knitting experience and comfort with directional shaping.

Design Versatility

Westside's design accommodates multiple colorway interpretations without requiring pattern modifications. Whether knit in a single solid color for understated elegance, a two-tone combination for subtle contrast, or a rainbow gradient for bold visual impact, the shawl maintains its attractive appearance on both sides. This versatility makes it an excellent project for exploring color work and yarn stashing.