2nd Thought

2nd Thought Shawl by Siew Clark

What Is Being Made

2nd Thought is a top-down, one-piece symmetrical knit shawl designed by Siew Clark. This intermediate-level knitting project features an elegant construction that begins at the top edge and expands downward. The finished shawl measures 54 inches across the top edge with a depth of 21 inches from top to bottom, making it a substantial wrap suitable for layering or draping.

Construction Method

The shawl is worked in a top-down approach, meaning you begin knitting from the top edge and work toward the bottom, allowing for easy customization of length. The design is symmetrical, creating a balanced, aesthetically pleasing garment. The pattern is worked as a single continuous piece rather than separate components that require seaming.

Yarn and Materials

This shawl combines two distinct yarns to achieve its intended texture and drape. The shawl body is created by holding Misty Meadows Mary Maxim Mohair Glitter together with one strand of green wool blend yarn, requiring approximately 550 yards of the mohair blend and 350 yards of the green wool blend. The border is worked using Mohair Glitter alone, showcasing the yarn's sparkle and texture. Both yarns are worked on US 10 / 6mm needles.

Stitch Techniques and Cable Work

This pattern employs cable knitting as a primary design element, featuring 12 cables total on the border. The cables used are substantial 10-stitch cables worked in both directions:

• C10F (Cable 10 Front): Slip 5 stitches to a cable needle and hold in front, knit 5 stitches from the left needle, then knit 5 stitches from the cable needle
• C10B (Cable 10 Back): Slip 5 stitches to a cable needle and hold in back, knit 5 stitches from the left needle, then knit 5 stitches from the cable needle

These cable techniques create dimensional texture and visual interest throughout the border section of the shawl.

Basic Stitches and Abbreviations

The pattern uses fundamental knitting stitches and techniques, including:

• Knit (k) and purl (p) stitches for the base fabric
• Yarn overs (yo) for creating lace elements and shaping increases
• Slip stitches (sl) for various techniques
• Cable needle (cn) work for the featured cable patterns

The pattern also incorporates stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and construction points, with instructions to place markers (pm) and slip markers (sm) as you work.

Gauge and Customization

An important feature of this design is that gauge is unimportant, making it an accessible project for knitters of varying experience levels. This flexibility allows you to work at a comfortable pace without worrying about precise gauge measurements. Additionally, the shawl can be made longer than the specified dimensions if desired, offering creative customization options.

Pattern Format and Difficulty Level

2nd Thought is offered as a free, downloadable PDF pattern suitable for intermediate-level knitters. The intermediate difficulty reflects the cable work and top-down construction method, which require familiarity with cable techniques and the ability to read and follow a multi-row pattern repeat.