Dancing Palms Shawl

Dancing Palms Shawl by Justyna Lorkowska

What Is Being Made

The Dancing Palms Shawl is a knitted triangular shawl designed by Justyna Lorkowska. This finished garment measures approximately 170 centimeters (67 inches) wide and 65 centimeters (25.5 inches) long at the center spine, making it a generous wrap suitable for layering or draping.

Craft and Construction Method

This shawl is created using the knitting craft. The design employs a structured construction technique with strategic increases and stitch manipulations to achieve its triangular shape and elegant drape. The pattern uses directional shaping with increases positioned at key points to control the shawl's geometry and create visual interest through stitch placement.

Stitches and Techniques Used

The Dancing Palms Shawl incorporates several fundamental and intermediate knitting stitches and techniques:

• Knit (k) – the basic knit stitch forming the foundation of the fabric
• Purl (p) – reverse stockinette sections for textural contrast
• Knit front and back (kfb) – an increase method that creates two stitches from one
• Make one left (m1L) – a decorative increase worked by lifting the loop between stitches from the front and knitting into the back of the loop
• Knit two together (k2tog) – a right-leaning decrease
• Slip stitch (sl) – stitches slipped with yarn in back (wyb) or yarn in front (wyf) for edge definition
• Stitch markers (sm) – used to denote pattern sections and increases
• Bind off (BO) – cast-off method to secure finished edges

The pattern utilizes contrast color (CC) work, alternating between two colorways to create visual striping and pattern definition throughout the shawl's construction.

Yarn and Materials

The Dancing Palms Shawl is worked in 4-ply weight yarn using Bouncy Merino by Martin's Lab, a high-twist merino wool yarn composed of 100% merino fiber. Each 100-gram skein contains 366 meters (399 yards) of yarn. The pattern is shown in two colorways: Jelly Fish and Caribbean Dreams, both offering tropical-inspired color palettes that complement the shawl's name and aesthetic.

Knitting needles appropriate for 4-ply weight yarn are required, though specific needle size recommendations are referenced in the complete pattern documentation.

Difficulty Level

This design is classified as beginner level, making it accessible to knitters who have mastered basic stitches and are ready to explore shawl construction with simple increases and directional shaping.