Gaenor

Gaenor Shawl by Corrina Ferguson

What Is Being Made

The Gaenor is a triangular shawl design created by independent designer Corrina Ferguson. This downloadable knitting pattern produces a finished shawl measuring 76 inches (193 cm) wide by 24 inches (61 cm) deep at the center, making it a generous accessory suitable for layering or wrapping.

Craft and Construction Method

Gaenor is a knitted shawl worked from a top-down construction. The pattern employs a garter stitch base fabric, which creates a textured, reversible surface with excellent drape and flexibility. The designer notes that the shawl is intentionally worked on needles larger than typically recommended for the yarn weight to achieve a particularly drapey, fluid fabric that enhances the finished garment's elegant movement and wearability.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This intermediate-level pattern incorporates several essential shawl-knitting techniques:

• Yarn overs (yo and yo2) – used to create the lace increases that shape the triangular silhouette and add visual interest
• Decreases – including k2tog (knit 2 together) and k3tog (knit 3 together) for shaping and stitch management
• Kfb (knit front and back) – an increase technique for adding stitches within the pattern
• Garter stitch – the primary stitch structure, created by knitting every row on both right-side and wrong-side rows
• Slip markers – used to track pattern repeats and shaping sections throughout the knitting process

The pattern includes a dedicated increase section that is repeated to build the shawl's width, with the designer recommending that knitters weigh their yarn and complete full repeats to ensure optimal yardage management and finished dimensions.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

Gaenor is designed for fingering weight yarn with a recommended fiber blend of 70% merino and 30% silk, providing approximately 440 yards (400 meters) per 3.5 ounces (100 grams). One skein is required to complete the shawl. The pattern is flexible regarding yarn choice; the designer explicitly notes that while the sample was knit in a discontinued yarn matching these specifications, the pattern can be adapted to work with nearly any yarn, with adjustments made based on individual gauge and available yardage.

Needles and Tools

The pattern calls for US #7 (4.5 mm) needles, though the designer emphasizes adjusting needle size as needed to achieve the correct gauge and desired fabric drape. Additional tools include a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats throughout the project.

Gauge

The target gauge is 18 stitches and 22 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) when measured in blocked garter stitch. Achieving proper gauge is essential for reaching the finished dimensions and ensuring the shawl drapes correctly.