20 days

20 Days Knitted Shawl by Adrienne Ku

Project Overview

20 Days is an intermediate-level knitted shawl designed by Adrienne Ku. This downloadable PDF pattern features a distinctive construction method where a decorative border is worked perpendicular to the main shawl body, creating a unique architectural element. The shawl is worked in lace-weight yarn, making it an elegant and refined accessory suitable for advanced beginner to intermediate knitters.

Construction Technique

The defining characteristic of this shawl is its perpendicular border construction. Rather than adding the border after completing the main shawl, the border stitches are worked simultaneously with the shawl body in an integrated method. This technique requires careful attention to stitch management and row-by-row coordination between the border and body sections.

The border is initiated by casting on 8 stitches using the knitted cast-on method at the beginning of a right-side row. As the border is worked across, it is joined to the shawl body through strategic decreases. On each right-side row, the knitter works across the border stitches according to the provided chart instructions, then purls together the final border stitch with the next shawl stitch. The work is then turned, and the return wrong-side row is completed across only the border stitches, leaving the remaining shawl stitches unworked until the next right-side row.

Stitch Work and Charting

The pattern utilizes charted instructions for precise stitch placement, particularly in the border sections. The pattern includes Chart D, which contains both right-side and wrong-side row instructions. Knitters must read odd-numbered (right-side) rows from right to left and even-numbered (wrong-side) rows from left to right, following standard chart conventions. Chart D is worked repeatedly in specific sequences: first through rows 1–4 multiple times, then rows 1–3 once more, allowing for controlled shaping and pattern development.

The stitches employed include knit and purl stitches for the border structure, along with the decreases necessary for joining the border to the shawl body. A specialized bind-off technique is used to finish the piece, creating a secure and refined edge. This bind-off method involves knitting 2 stitches together through the back loops in a repeating sequence with single knit stitches, producing a chain-like finished edge.

Materials and Yarn Requirements

This pattern is designed for lace-weight yarn, which creates an airy, delicate fabric ideal for shawl construction. The specific yardage requirements are detailed within the full PDF pattern. Appropriate needles for lace-weight yarn are required, typically in smaller gauges to accommodate the fine yarn weight. The pattern assumes standard knitting needles suitable for lace work.

Finishing

After completing all border rows and binding off, the shawl is finished through weaving in all yarn ends and blocking. Blocking is essential for lace-weight shawls, as it opens up the lace pattern and helps establish the final dimensions and drape of the finished piece.

Skill Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty. Knitters should be comfortable with reading charts, managing multiple sections of stitches simultaneously, and executing decreases and specialty bind-off techniques. The perpendicular border construction method, while not overly complex, requires focus and understanding of how the border and body interact throughout the knitting process.