Pierina shawl

Pierina Shawl by Anna Dalvi

What Is Being Made

The Pierina shawl is an intermediate-level knitted triangular shawl designed by Anna Dalvi. This downloadable knitting pattern produces a generous wingspan of 127 cm (50 inches) with a height of 60 cm (23.5 inches) when blocked, making it a substantial accessory suitable for layering or draping.

Craft and Primary Technique

This project is created using the knitting craft, worked flat on circular needles. The shawl construction begins with a small cast-on and expands outward through charted stitch patterns, a common approach for triangular shawl designs. The pattern uses both right-side and wrong-side rows with specific edge stitches (knit stitches on the edges) to create clean selvage edges, while the interior features charted lace or textured stitches that repeat and build throughout the piece.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The Pierina shawl employs charted knitting patterns that guide stitch placement across multiple rows. The pattern is organized into sections—Chart A contains 52 rows divided into working sequences (Rows 1-32, followed by a repeated section of Rows 25-32, then Rows 41-52). The charted sections are worked symmetrically on either side of a center stitch, creating a balanced design. The use of charts allows for precise placement of decreases, yarn overs, and textured stitches that form the visual pattern of the finished shawl. Edge stitches (knit on all rows) frame the charted sections, providing structural stability.

Materials and Tools

The Pierina shawl is worked in Kollage Yarns Creamy, a blend of 80% milk fiber and 20% cotton. This yarn choice provides a soft, breathable fabric suitable for a shawl. The pattern calls for 2 skeins of the natural/undyed colorway as the main color (MC) and 1 skein of gray as a contrast color (CC). Each skein contains 200 yards per 50 grams. The project is worked on a single 40-inch US 2½ (3.0 mm) circular needle, which accommodates the expanding stitch count as the shawl grows. A large-eyed, blunt needle is required for weaving in ends and finishing. The recommended gauge is 17.5 stitches and 30 rows per 4 inches (10 cm) when worked in pattern and blocked, which is essential for achieving the finished dimensions.

Pattern Structure and Difficulty

Rated as intermediate difficulty, the Pierina shawl requires knitters to be comfortable reading and working from charts, managing increasing stitch counts, and understanding how to work symmetrical patterns. The pattern begins with a 5-stitch cast-on and expands through charted sections, with all right-side rows and wrong-side rows following a specific structure: edge stitches frame two instances of the charted pattern with a center stitch between them. This symmetrical construction is characteristic of top-down triangular shawl designs and requires attention to pattern repeats and stitch counts as the piece grows.