Zaggin'

Zaggin' Knit Shawl by Kiri FitzGerald

What Is Being Made

Zaggin' is a knitted shawl designed by Kiri FitzGerald that combines comfort with visual interest. This intermediate-level project creates a finished garment measuring approximately 105cm (41.5 inches) long by 35cm (13.75 inches) wide, making it an ideal size for wrapping and snuggling. The shawl uses a two-colour design to achieve its signature aesthetic.

Design and Pattern Features

The shawl showcases an interesting zigzag pattern created through the strategic use of contrasting colours and directional shaping techniques. The two-colour colourway provides visual depth and makes the geometric pattern pop, while the construction method ensures the shawl drapes beautifully when worn.

Knitting Techniques Used

This project employs several intermediate knitting techniques to achieve its distinctive look:

• Garter stitch – the primary stitch throughout, creating a textured, reversible fabric with horizontal ridges
• Short rows – used to shape the shawl and create the zigzag directional changes without casting off and on repeatedly
• Wrap and turn (w+t) – a short-row technique where the working yarn is wrapped around a stitch before turning, preventing holes at the turning points
• Increases and decreases – knit front and back (kf&b) for increases and knit 2 together (k2tog) for decreases, used to shape the shawl edges

Stitches and Abbreviations

The pattern uses fundamental knitting stitches combined with shaping techniques. Core stitches include knit (k) and purl (p) stitches, while shaping incorporates k2tog decreases and kf&b increases. The short-row technique relies on wrap and turn (w+t) instructions to create seamless transitions in the zigzag construction.

Yarn and Materials

The shawl requires DK or light worsted weight yarn totalling approximately 489m (469 yards) across two colours:

• Main colour (MC): 370m / 339 yards
• Contrast colour (CC): 119m / 130 yards

The sample was knitted using Debbie Bliss Mia, a 50% wool and 50% cotton blend offering both warmth and breathability. The main colour used 4 balls (Col. No. 51001) and the contrast colour used 2 balls (Col. No. 51005) of the 50g/1.76oz skeins, each containing 100m/109 yards.

Needles and Tension

5mm knitting needles are required for this project. The pattern is worked to a tension of 19 stitches and 35 rows to 10cm (4 inches) in garter stitch. Achieving the correct tension is important for reaching the intended finished measurements and ensuring the shawl drapes as designed.

Skill Level

Zaggin' is rated as an intermediate knitting project. While garter stitch itself is a beginner technique, the combination of short-row shaping, wrap and turn techniques, and colour changes makes this project suitable for knitters with some experience beyond basic stockinette stitch projects. The pattern rewards careful attention to the short-row instructions to ensure even shaping throughout.