Asymmetrical Knit Shawl in Red Heart It's a Wrap - LW5700 - Downloadable PDF

Asymmetrical Knit Shawl in Red Heart It's a Wrap – LW5700 by Lisa Gentry

About This Pattern

This free, downloadable PDF pattern by designer Lisa Gentry guides knitters through the creation of a beautifully asymmetrical lace shawl using Red Heart It's a Wrap yarn. The finished shawl is a generous, sweeping accessory with an organic, triangular silhouette that makes it equally suited to casual layering and elegant occasions. At approximately 96 inches (244 cm) across the increase edge, 61 inches (155 cm) across the decrease edge, and 42 inches (106.5 cm) across the bind-off edge, this is a truly statement-making wrap with impressive drape and coverage.

Design Overview

The shawl features a distinctive asymmetrical construction that sets it apart from traditional triangular or rectangular shawl patterns. Rather than starting from a center spine or cast-on edge, the piece is worked back and forth in rows from one point, gradually expanding across to a straight edge. This clever shaping creates a dynamic, flowing silhouette that sits beautifully on the shoulders. The combination of lace patterning and the self-striping or gradient nature of Red Heart It's a Wrap yarn means the color shifts naturally across the fabric, adding visual interest without any additional colorwork techniques.

Construction and Shaping Techniques

Understanding the shaping logic of this pattern is key to its success. The designer has built a precise and consistent increase-and-decrease system into every row:

• Right side rows: An increase is worked at the beginning of the row and a decrease at the end, meaning the stitch count remains the same after each right side row.
• Wrong side rows: An increase is worked at the end of the row, so the stitch count grows by one stitch with every wrong side row worked.
• This alternating system produces the asymmetrical, angled shape that gives the shawl its distinctive silhouette.

This approach is beginner-friendly in concept — once the rhythm of the shaping is understood, it becomes intuitive and repetitive, making it an excellent project for knitters who are new to shawl construction.

Stitches and Special Techniques

While rated as a beginner difficulty level, this pattern introduces a couple of satisfying special stitches that add texture and lace detail to the fabric. These stitches are clearly defined within the pattern:

• kfb (Knit into Front and Back): A classic increase stitch used throughout the shaping. The knitter works into the front loop of the next stitch without removing it from the needle, then knits into the back loop of the same stitch before removing it — resulting in one stitch increased. This is one of the most common and beginner-accessible increase methods in knitting.
• s2kp (Slip 2, Knit, Pass 2 Slipped Stitches Over): A centered double decrease that removes two stitches at once. Two stitches are slipped as if to k2tog, one stitch is knitted, and then the two slipped stitches are passed over the knit stitch and off the needle — resulting in a decrease of two stitches. This technique is frequently used in lace knitting to create a neat, symmetrical decrease point.
• Lace Pattern: The body of the shawl incorporates a lace pattern that can be followed using either written row-by-row instructions or a visual chart, giving knitters the flexibility to work in whichever format suits their learning style best.

Lace Knitting: A Brief Overview

Lace knitting is a technique that uses deliberate yarn-overs and decreases to create decorative open holes within the fabric, forming intricate, airy patterns. It is a hallmark of shawl and wrap design and adds elegance and lightness to the finished piece. The s2kp decrease used in this pattern is a staple of lace construction, as it creates a clean, centered decrease that complements the surrounding yarn-over increases. Even at a beginner level, lace knitting teaches foundational skills in reading patterns, maintaining stitch counts, and understanding how increases and decreases interact to shape fabric.

Materials: Yarn and Needles