Confundo

Confundo Shawl by Barbara Benson

What is Being Made

Confundo is a knitted shawl designed by Barbara Benson that showcases creative colorwork through the strategic use of multiple yarn colors. The design allows knitters to work with three coordinating colors simultaneously, creating a sophisticated ombre effect layered with contrasting slip stitch colorwork. This project is ideal for knitters seeking to explore color combination techniques while working on an accessible beginner-level pattern.

Design Concept and Color Strategy

The shawl's construction centers on a thoughtful approach to yarn selection and color coordination. Designer Barbara Benson chose to work with two colors that create a gradual two-step ombre effect, then introduced a third contrasting color that stands apart from the base colors. This third color is incorporated through simple slip stitch colorwork, allowing the knitter to work with only one active strand at a time, which simplifies the colorwork process for those new to multi-color knitting techniques.

Knitting Techniques Used

Confundo employs fundamental knitting techniques suitable for beginner-level knitters while introducing accessible colorwork methods. The pattern incorporates slip stitch colorwork as its primary color technique, which is one of the most straightforward approaches to adding color variation without the complexity of stranded colorwork or intarsia. Slip stitches are worked with the needle inserted purl-wise, with yarn positioned either to the wrong side or in front of the work depending on the desired effect.

Stitches and Abbreviations

The pattern uses a focused set of fundamental knitting stitches that keep the construction straightforward:

• k: knit stitch, the basic foundation stitch of knitting
• p: purl stitch, the reverse of the knit stitch
• kfb: knit front and back, a common increase technique that creates one additional stitch from a single stitch
• s: slip stitch with needle inserted purl-wise and yarn held to the wrong side of work
• s-wyif: slip stitch with needle inserted purl-wise and yarn positioned in front of the stitch being slipped, creating a different visual effect than slipping with yarn in back
• ssk: slip, slip, knit—a left-leaning decrease worked by slipping two stitches knit-wise separately, then returning them to the left hand needle and knitting them together
• rep: repeat, indicating that a sequence of stitches or rows should be worked multiple times as directed
• RS: right side, the public-facing side of the finished shawl

Materials and Yarn Requirements

Confundo is designed to be worked in DK weight yarn, a medium-light yarn weight that provides excellent stitch definition for both the colorwork and the base knit and purl stitches. The pattern is specifically designed to showcase the Yowza base from Miss Babs, an independent yarn dyer known for distinctive color offerings. The designer recommends using Miss Babs' mini form yarn, which comes grouped in Trios—coordinated sets of three colors that work harmoniously together. This curated approach to color selection eliminates the challenge of independently selecting three complementary colors and allows knitters to focus on the construction and colorwork techniques.

Skill Level and Accessibility

Rated as a beginner difficulty pattern, Confundo makes multi-color knitting accessible to those new to colorwork. By using slip stitch colorwork rather than more complex techniques, the pattern avoids the tension management challenges of stranded colorwork while still delivering visually striking results. The combination of basic stitches—knit, purl, increases, and slip stitches—means that knitters with fundamental skills can successfully complete this project while building confidence in color techniques.