Lotus Shawl

Lotus Shawl by Maria Magnusson

What is Being Made

The Lotus Shawl is a triangular knitted shawl measuring 150 x 60 cm (59 x 24 inches). This intermediate-level knitting project creates an elegant accessory using a single skein of fingering-weight yarn, making it an efficient use of materials for a substantial finished piece.

Knitting Techniques Used

This shawl employs several advanced knitting techniques that contribute to its sophisticated construction. The design incorporates yarn overs to create decorative lace elements throughout the pattern. Decreases are strategically used to shape the triangular silhouette, including slip-stitch decreases and multiple-stitch decreases that create visual interest. The shawl features a chart-based pattern with repeating motifs that can be customized by adding additional pattern repeats, allowing knitters to adjust the final size while accounting for yarn yardage.

A notable special technique featured in this design is k3to7, which involves knitting 3 stitches together without dropping them from the needle, followed by a yarn over, and repeating this sequence twice more before completing the decrease. This creates distinctive textural elements characteristic of the lotus-inspired design.

Stitches Used

• Knit (K) – fundamental stitch forming the base fabric
• Purl (P) – used for texture variation and pattern definition
• Yarn Over (YO) – creates the lace openings throughout the shawl
• K2tog (Knit 2 together) – a right-leaning decrease
• SSK (Slip, Slip, Knit) – a left-leaning decrease for balanced shaping
• Sl2 k1, psso (Slip 2, Knit 1, Pass Slipped Stitches Over) – a double decrease
• K4tog (Knit 4 together) – a dramatic decrease for shaping
• Sk2po (Slip 1, Knit 2 together, Pass Slipped Stitch Over) – another double decrease variation
• Slip marker (SM) and Place marker (PM) – used to track pattern repeats and shaping sections

Materials and Specifications

Yarn: Approximately 360 meters (395 yards) of Madeline Tosh Sock in the color Rose. This is a 4-ply fingering-weight yarn that provides excellent stitch definition for the lace pattern. One skein provides just enough yardage to complete the shawl, though Maria Magnusson recommends having a second skein available as a safety margin.

Needles and Accessories: A 4 mm (US 6) circular needle measuring 120 cm (47 inches) in length is required to accommodate the increasing stitch count as the triangular shawl expands. Additional accessories include 2 stitch markers to track pattern sections and a 3 mm crochet hook used specifically for the bind-off edge, creating a finished, professional appearance.

Gauge Note: Gauge is noted as not crucial for this project, though it will affect the total yardage required. This flexibility makes the Lotus Shawl adaptable for different yarn weights and personal tension variations, though adjustments to pattern repeats may be necessary based on available yarn quantity.