Tourbillion Shawl

Tourbillion Shawl by MsYarn Designs

What is Being Made

The Tourbillion Shawl is a knitted triangular shawl designed by MsYarn Designs. This intermediate-level project features a wingspan of 60 inches (152.4 cm) and a center length of 24 inches (61 cm), making it a substantial accessory piece suitable for layering or wearing as a wrap. The shawl is worked flat using a combination of construction techniques that build the fabric from a small cast-on edge.

Knitting Techniques Used

This design employs several key knitting techniques to achieve its final shape and drape. The shawl begins with a small cast-on of 17 stitches worked in garter stitch for the foundation rows. The construction method involves rotating the piece 90 degrees and picking up stitches along the edges, a technique that allows the shawl to expand from a central point. This approach creates organic shaping and is characteristic of many modern shawl designs. The pattern uses charted instructions for the main pattern sections, requiring knitters to read and follow a side chart pattern throughout the body of the shawl. This intermediate-level construction demands attention to stitch placement and pattern repeats but is accessible to knitters with solid foundational skills.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Tourbillion Shawl incorporates fundamental knitting stitches combined with charted pattern work. The foundation uses garter stitch (knit every row), which provides a stable, textured base. The primary pattern section is worked from a side chart, which guides the placement of knit and purl stitches to create the shawl's decorative motif. Stitch markers are essential tools for this project, helping knitters track pattern repeats and construction sections as the shawl expands. The gauge for the side chart pattern is 18 stitches by 30 rows over 4 inches when blocked, though the pattern notes that gauge variations will affect both yardage requirements and final measurements.

Yarn and Materials

The Tourbillion Shawl is designed for fingering weight yarn (also called 4-ply), requiring approximately 530 yards (485 meters) of yarn. The sample shown in the pattern was knitted using two skeins of Knit Picks Hawthorne Tonal Hand Painted, a yarn blend consisting of 80% superwash wool and 20% nylon, with each 100-gram skein providing 357 yards. This fiber content provides durability and easy care while maintaining the elasticity needed for shawl construction. Knitters will need US 4 (3.5mm) circular needles with a length of 32 to 40 inches (80 to 100 cm) to accommodate the increasing number of stitches as the shawl grows. The pattern specifies that needle size may be adjusted to obtain the correct gauge. Additional notions include 6 stitch markers for tracking pattern sections and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and blocking the finished shawl.

Difficulty Level

This project is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters who have mastered basic stitches and are comfortable reading charted patterns. The construction method of rotating the piece and picking up stitches requires spatial awareness and careful attention to technique, but the repetitive nature of the pattern work makes it manageable for experienced knitters seeking to expand their skills.