Northport Shawl

Northport Shawl by Kristen TenDyke

What is Being Made

The Northport Shawl is a knitted triangular wrap designed to drape elegantly over the shoulders and around the neck for warmth during cooler seasons. With finished measurements of 51¾" (131.5 cm) wingspan and 18¼" (46.5 cm) length, this shawl offers substantial coverage while maintaining a refined silhouette. The design captures the aesthetic of autumn, featuring lacy leaf and cable pattern work combined with dropped stitches that evoke the visual movement of freshly fallen leaves blowing in the wind.

Techniques Used

The Northport Shawl employs several intermediate knitting techniques to achieve its distinctive appearance and structure. The pattern incorporates lacy leaf motifs that create openwork sections throughout the shawl, adding visual interest and lightness to the fabric. Cable stitches are worked to provide textural contrast and structural definition within the design. Dropped stitches are intentionally used as a design element, contributing to the organic, wind-swept aesthetic that defines the shawl's character. The shawl is worked flat in rows using a circular needle, which accommodates the large stitch count required for the wingspan without necessitating circular construction.

Stitches Used

The pattern utilizes garter stitch as the primary stitch for gauge measurement and foundational fabric structure. The gauge is established at 16 stitches and 32 rows equaling 4" (10 cm) in garter stitch. Beyond the base stitch, the pattern incorporates cable stitches worked with a cable needle to create twisted rope-like textures. Leaf stitch patterns are used to form the lacy motifs characteristic of the design. Dropped stitch techniques are employed as deliberate design elements rather than mistakes, creating intentional openwork areas. The pattern begins with the knitted cast-on method and includes bind-off techniques to finish the edges.

Materials

The Northport Shawl is designed to be worked in worsted weight yarn, with the sample shown in Swans Island Worsted Natural Colors, a yarn composed of 100% certified organic merino wool. The yarn specifications indicate that one 100-gram ball yields approximately 250 yards (229 meters). The pattern requires 2 hanks of yarn in the Russet colorway, totaling approximately 500 yards, though any comparable earth-friendly worsted weight yarn of similar yardage may be substituted. Knitting needles required include a US Size 8 (5 mm) circular needle measuring 32" (80 cm), used to accommodate the large number of stitches despite working flat in rows rather than in the round. Additional notions include a cable needle for managing cable stitches and a tapestry needle for finishing and weaving in ends.