Ginkgo Shawl

Ginkgo Shawl by yellowcosmo

What is Being Made

The Ginkgo Shawl is a crescent-shaped shawl designed by Connie Peng of yellowcosmo designs. This elegant accessory features a distinctive ginkgo leaf motif integrated into the lace border, combining both structural shaping and decorative patterning. The shawl is available in two sizes: Small measuring 72 inches wide by 12 inches tall (183 cm x 30.5 cm), and Large measuring 83 inches wide by 12.5 inches tall (211 cm x 32 cm). The crescent silhouette creates a graceful, curved shape that drapes beautifully when worn.

Construction Technique

The Ginkgo Shawl is constructed using a top-down knitting method, beginning at the top edge and working downward to create the finished crescent shape. The shaping is achieved through strategic increases worked on both right-side and wrong-side rows: 4 stitches are increased on right-side rows while 2 stitches are increased on wrong-side rows. This asymmetrical increase pattern creates the characteristic curved crescent silhouette. The design progresses through distinct sections, beginning with the main body, transitioning into garter stitch stripes, followed by contrast color stripes that form the stem of the ginkgo leaf, and concluding with a lace section featuring the ginkgo leaf motif border.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns Used

• Stockinette Stitch - forms the primary fabric of the shawl body, creating a smooth, classic knit texture
• Garter Stitch - used for the striped sections, providing texture and definition between color changes
• Lace Stitches - creates the decorative ginkgo leaf motif border, adding an intricate, openwork design element to the shawl's edge

Yarn and Materials

This pattern uses fingering weight yarn, which is a fine 3-ply yarn weight suitable for detailed stitch definition. Two contrasting yarn colors are required: Yarn A for the top section requires 300 yards (Small) or 320 yards (Large), while Yarn B for the stripes and lace sections requires 275 yards for both sizes. The pattern is worked on US #4 / 3.5 mm needles. The recommended gauge is 16 stitches by 36 rows over 4 inches by 4 inches (10 cm x 10 cm) in Stockinette Stitch after blocking. Additional notions required include 2 stitch markers to assist with pattern placement and shaping.

Skill Level

This pattern is rated as advanced difficulty, making it suitable for experienced knitters. The combination of top-down construction with asymmetrical increases, color changes, garter stitch stripes, and lace patterning requires solid foundational knitting skills and comfort with reading complex stitch patterns.