Precipice

Precipice Shawl by Carissa Browning

What Is Being Made

Precipice is a downloadable knitting pattern for a triangular shawl designed by independent designer Carissa Browning. This shawl is available in four sizes—Small, Medium, Large, and Extra Large—with finished spans ranging from 47 inches to 94 inches and depths at the lowest point from 16 inches to 33 inches. The shawl is constructed using three coordinating yarn colors, creating a sophisticated colorwork design that builds from a single point.

Techniques Used

Precipice employs a distinctive sideways construction method worked on the bias, beginning at one point and expanding outward. The shawl uses a strategic stitch management technique where sections of stitches are left unworked at key intervals. After completing Section 1, approximately two-thirds of the stitches are set aside while work continues on the remaining third. Following Section 2, three-quarters of the remaining stitches are ignored, and the pattern continues with only the final quarter of stitches. This innovative approach creates a complex, layered shawl structure while managing stitch counts efficiently. The pattern includes increases worked along the top edge to achieve the triangular shaping.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch pattern is garter stitch, which forms the foundation of this design. Garter stitch—created by knitting every row—produces a reversible, textured fabric with horizontal ridges that showcase the yarn's color variations beautifully. The gauge for this pattern is 21 stitches and 42 rows per 4 inches when measured in garter stitch after blocking.

Materials Required

This pattern calls for fingering weight yarn in three separate colors:

• Color A (solid/tonal): 158 yards for size Small; 274 yards for size Medium; 423 yards for size Large; 604 yards for size Extra Large
• Color B (variegated): 165 yards for size Small; 296 yards for size Medium; 437 yards for size Large; 638 yards for size Extra Large
• Color C (solid/tonal): 165 yards for size Small; 296 yards for size Medium; 437 yards for size Large; 638 yards for size Extra Large

The sample shown in size Large was created using Blue Mule Fiber Fleck Ewe, a premium yarn blend containing 75% merino and 25% silk, with 437 yards per 100-gram skein. The three colorways used were Calamity Jane (Color A), Boots & Spurs (Color B), and Midnight, TX (Color C).

Additional materials include a US #3/3.25mm circular needle measuring 24 inches in length, a tapestry needle for finishing, and 4 stitch markers for tracking pattern sections.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to explore more complex construction techniques and stitch management strategies.