Scirocco

Scirocco Shawl by Kiri FitzGerald

What is Being Made

Scirocco is an advanced-level knitted shawl designed by independent designer Kiri FitzGerald. This downloadable PDF pattern creates a large triangular shawl measuring 150cm (59 inches) across the top and 79cm (30 inches) at its widest point, making it a generous wrap suitable for layering and draping.

Knitting Techniques

This pattern employs sophisticated knitting techniques appropriate for advanced crafters. The shawl is constructed using a long circular needle to accommodate the increasing number of stitches as the piece grows, and to enable working single-row stripes throughout the design. The construction method allows for the creation of a large, shapely garment worked from a single cast-on edge.

Stitches and Stitch Abbreviations Used

• k – knit stitch, the fundamental knit fabric stitch
• p – purl stitch, creating texture variation
• k2tog – knit two stitches together, a right-leaning decrease
• ssk – slip, slip, knit; slip two stitches individually as if to knit, then knit them together, a left-leaning decrease
• sl1, k2tog, psso – slip one stitch, knit two together, pass slipped stitch over; a double decrease creating decorative shaping
• yo – yarn over, creating eyelets and lace elements
• rep – repeat stitch sequences as directed

Yarn and Materials

Scirocco is worked in fingering-weight yarn using a two-colour stranded approach. The main colour (MC) requires 455 metres (498 yards) and the contrast colour (CC) requires 260 metres (285 yards). The sample was knitted using Eki Riva Supreme, a luxury yarn composed of 100% SuperBaby Alpaca. Specifically, the sample used 3 balls of colour number 2174 for the main colour and 2 balls of colour number 201 for the contrast colour, with each ball weighing 50g (1.75oz) and yielding 200 metres (219 yards).

Knitting needles required are 3.5mm (US size 4) circular needles measuring 80cm in length. Additional notions include stitch markers and a darning needle for finishing.

Gauge

The pattern is worked to a gauge of 23 stitches and 36 rows over 10cm (4 inches) in stocking stitch, the basic knit-purl fabric. Achieving correct gauge is essential for obtaining the specified finished measurements.