Lotus

Lotus Shawl by Melanie Mielinger

Project Overview

Lotus is an intermediate-level knitted shawl designed by Melanie Mielinger. This downloadable PDF pattern creates a generous triangular shawl measuring approximately 80 inches from side to side with a depth of 25.5 inches at the deepest point in the middle, making it an ideal accessory for layering and draping.

What Is Being Made

The Lotus shawl is a large, asymmetrical triangular wrap-style shawl. The generous dimensions and construction method make it suitable for various wearing styles, from a traditional shawl wrap to a shoulder wrap or decorative accent piece. The finished shawl showcases stitch definition and texture through its carefully planned knit and purl patterns.

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs several fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques to create its structure and visual interest:

• Yarn overs (yo) for creating decorative lace elements and shaping increases
• Cable techniques requiring a cable needle for twisted stitch effects
• Slip stitches (sl) for edge definition and stitch manipulation
• Decrease methods including slip, slip, knit (ssk) for paired decreases that lean left
• Knit through front and back (kfb) for bar increases
• Blocking to achieve proper gauge and shape definition after completion

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Lotus shawl combines basic and textured stitches to build its design:

• Knit stitch (k) as the primary structural element
• Purl stitch (p) for creating texture and contrast
• Yarn overs worked throughout for lace detailing and shaping
• Cable crosses adding dimensional texture to the shawl body
• Decreases (ssk and tog) for shaping the triangular form

Materials and Tools

Yarn: The pattern calls for Malabrigo Yarn Sock, a 3-ply and 4-ply weight yarn. Two skeins are required, with each skein containing 100 grams and 440 yards (402 meters) of yardage. The sample shown in the pattern features the Lotus colorway from Malabrigo's palette.

Needles and Notions: Construction requires US 6 (4 mm) circular needles to accommodate the growing number of stitches, along with a cable needle for cable techniques. Additional supplies include four stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats, a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, and an optional row counter for tracking progress through the pattern.

Gauge and Finished Measurements

The pattern is worked to a gauge of 20 stitches and 36 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) using US 6 (4 mm) needles after blocking. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the intended finished measurements of approximately 80 inches from side to side and 25.5 inches in depth. A schematic is provided within the pattern to clarify measurements and construction details.

Difficulty Level

Rated as intermediate, the Lotus shawl requires familiarity with fundamental knitting techniques including increases, decreases, and cable work. Knitters should be comfortable reading pattern abbreviations and following multi-row stitch patterns while managing an increasing stitch count on circular needles.