1127 Reservoir - Shawl Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Leverett

Pattern #1127 Reservoir – Lace Shawl Wrap Knitting Pattern by Julie Turjoman

Pattern #1127 Reservoir, designed by Julie Turjoman and published by Valley Yarns, is an elegant knitted wrap featuring a romantic, leafy lace scalloped border paired with a textured ribbed reverse stockinette field. This is a single, one-size design that produces a finished piece measuring 18 inches wide by 64 inches long — a graceful, wearable wrap suited to a wide range of occasions. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and is rated Intermediate in difficulty.

What Is Being Made

The finished object is a rectangular knitted wrap or shawl for women. Its design is defined by two distinct zones: a sweeping lace border with decorative scalloped edges running along the long lower edge, and a textured field of reverse stockinette with knit-through-the-back-loop stitches that rises from the top of the border. The result is a piece that balances delicate lace detail with a clean, structured body — making it both visually interesting and wearable as a wrap or shawl.

Construction Method and Techniques

One of the most distinctive aspects of Reservoir is its construction approach. The wrap is worked sideways in one piece, meaning the knitter casts on along the long edge rather than the short end. This seamless, worked-flat method allows the lace border and the body of the wrap to flow naturally from a single continuous cast-on without any seaming.

• Seamless construction: The entire wrap is knitted as one piece, eliminating the need for seaming or joining.
• Worked flat (back and forth in rows): Despite being worked on a circular needle, the fabric is knitted flat, turning at the end of each row. A US size 5 (3.75 mm) 40-inch circular needle is used to accommodate the large number of stitches comfortably.
• Sideways construction: The cast-on edge forms the long side of the wrap, and the knitting progresses across the width. This is a clever structural choice that allows the lace border to be integrated directly into the lower edge.
• Long-Tail Cast-On: The pattern specifies the Long-Tail Cast-On method for the initial 327-stitch cast-on, which creates a neat, elastic edge well-suited to lace work.

Lace Techniques and Stitches Used

The lace border is the centerpiece of Reservoir and showcases classic lace knitting techniques. The Lace Border Pattern is a multiple of 20 stitches plus 7, worked over 32 rows, and is repeated 15 times across the width of the wrap. Knitters are encouraged to place a stitch marker between each 20-stitch lace repeat to track their position in the pattern.

• Yarn-overs (yo): Used to create the open, airy eyelets characteristic of lace knitting. Yarn-overs add a stitch while simultaneously creating a decorative hole in the fabric.
• SSK (slip, slip, knit): A left-leaning decrease used in the lace motif to shape the leafy design and balance the yarn-overs.
• K2tog (knit two together): A right-leaning decrease that pairs with the SSK to create the symmetrical leaf shapes within the lace pattern.
• SSP (slip, slip, purl): A left-leaning decrease worked on the wrong side, used to maintain the lace pattern's directionality on purl rows.
• P2tog (purl two together): A right-leaning purl decrease, also used on wrong-side rows within the lace border.
• Garter stitch selvedge edges: Garter stitch borders are maintained on both sides of the wrap throughout, providing a tidy, non-curling edge.
• Knit through the back loop (ktbl): Used in the wrap's body field to add extra stitch definition and a subtle textural quality to the reverse stockinette fabric.
• Reverse stockinette stitch: The main body or "field