Edith Shawl in Novita Venla - Downloadable PDF

Edith Shawl in Novita Venla

What is Being Made

The Edith Shawl is a triangular knit shawl designed by Sari Nordlund. This intermediate-level project produces a finished shawl measuring approximately 150 cm x 100 cm (59 inches x 39 inches). The shawl is knit in one size using Novita Venla yarn in the Sandy Beach colorway, requiring 300 grams of yarn.

Knitting Techniques

The Edith Shawl employs several fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques to create its structure and visual interest. The shawl begins with a small cast-on of just 3 stitches, which is then increased systematically throughout the pattern to achieve the triangular shape. Increases are worked using multiple methods, including knit front and back (kfb) increases and yarn-over increases (knitting the strand of yarn between stitches through the back loop), allowing for controlled shaping across the piece.

The design features garter stitch borders worked continuously at both ends of the shawl, providing a neat, finished edge and structural stability. Between these border sections, the pattern incorporates chart-based stitch work, which guides the knitter through more complex stitch sequences. Stitch markers are used throughout to clearly delineate different sections of the pattern, helping the knitter maintain accuracy as increases are worked and pattern repeats progress from rows 2 through 60 of the charted design.

Stitches Used

• Garter stitch: Knit stitches worked on both right-side and wrong-side rows, creating a textured, reversible fabric that frames the shawl's edges
• Knit front and back (kfb): An increase technique that creates two stitches from one by working into both the front and back loops
• Yarn-over increases: Created by knitting the strand of yarn between stitches through the back loop, adding stitches while creating subtle decorative holes
• Purl stitches: Used selectively within the pattern sections to add textural variation
• Charted stitch patterns: Complex stitch sequences worked from a chart, progressing through 60 rows of patterning

Materials and Tools

This project requires Novita Venla yarn in the Sandy Beach colorway, a 4-ply weight yarn. The total yardage needed is 300 grams. Knitters should use 4 mm needles (UK size 8 / US size 6) or the size needed to achieve proper gauge. Additional supplies include stitch markers to track pattern sections and a cable needle for managing stitches during the charted pattern work.

The 4-ply yarn weight provides a balanced thickness suitable for creating a shawl with good drape and definition in stitch patterns, while the specified needle size ensures the fabric has appropriate structure and density for a wearable finished piece.