Ankylosaurus

Ankylosaurus Shawl by Carissa Browning

What is Being Made

The Ankylosaurus is a triangular lace shawl designed by Carissa Browning. Inspired by the prehistoric dinosaur's protective armor plating, this shawl features columns of delicate lacy "spikes" that provide both visual interest and warmth. The finished shawl measures 42 inches in span with a center height of 13 inches, making it an elegant accessory suitable for layering or draping.

Project Structure and Construction

This shawl is worked end-to-end using a construction method that incorporates increases and decreases directly into lace charts. This approach allows the shawl to grow organically from a small cast-on to its full finished dimensions. The pattern begins with a backwards loop cast-on of just 3 stitches, then progresses through an increasing section before moving into the main lace pattern. The end-to-end construction method makes this an accessible introduction to lace knitting, as knitters can easily adjust the final size by working additional pattern repeats or stopping early if desired.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Lace knitting: The shawl incorporates lace charts with strategic yarn overs and decreases to create the signature openwork "spike" columns
• Increases and decreases: Shaping is achieved through increases and decreases worked directly into the lace pattern rather than at edges, creating a seamless integration of structure and design
• Backwards loop cast-on: The project begins with this simple cast-on method, requiring minimal setup
• Chart reading: Knitters follow a Center Chart with a multiple of 12 plus 5 stitches, developing essential skills for interpreting knitting charts

Stitches and Abbreviations

The Ankylosaurus pattern employs several key stitches to create its lace structure:

• Purl stitches (P): Form the base fabric and appear in all wrong-side rows
• Purl into front and back (Pfb): Creates increases within the pattern
• Purl 3 together (P3tog): A decrease that combines three stitches into one
• Purl 4 together (P4tog): A more aggressive decrease combining four stitches into one
• Slip 2, knit 1, pass slipped stitches over (S2kp): A centered double decrease that maintains the shawl's balanced shaping
• Yarn overs: Create the openwork lace pattern characteristic of the design

Materials and Specifications

The Ankylosaurus pattern calls for premium fingering-weight yarn. The recommended yarn is Sun Valley Fibers MCN Fingering in the colorway Cheeky, which features a luxurious blend of 80% merino wool, 10% cashmere, and 10% nylon. One 100-gram skein provides 366 meters (400 yards) of yardage, offering sufficient length to complete the shawl. The yarn weight of 4-ply (fingering weight) creates a delicate, drapey fabric ideal for lace work.

The project requires a US #6 (4mm) circular needle, which pairs with the fingering-weight yarn to achieve the specified gauge of 19 stitches and 31 rows equaling 4 inches in the lace pattern. A tapestry needle is needed for weaving in ends upon completion.

Difficulty Level

Rated as a beginner-friendly lace project, the Ankylosaurus shawl serves as an ideal introduction to lace knitting. While the pattern incorporates lace charts and multiple decrease techniques, the end-to-end construction and straightforward stitch vocabulary make it accessible to knitters new to openwork patterns. The single skein yardage and manageable finished dimensions reduce the time investment, allowing beginners to complete a satisfying project while building confidence with lace techniques.