Cloudcover

Cloudcover Shawl by Meghan Jackson

What is Being Made

Cloudcover is a top-down knit shawl designed by Meghan Jackson. This straightforward accessory features shadowy textured stripes and is intended for wear on both sunny and cloudy days. The sample shawl measures 40 inches wide at the neckline edge and 14.5 inches deep at the centre, though the pattern allows for easy customization of size.

Knitting Technique

Cloudcover is constructed using a top-down knitting method, a popular technique for shawls that begins at the neck or shoulder area and expands outward toward the edges. This approach allows knitters to try on the garment as it develops and customize the final dimensions by choosing when to bind off. The textured stripe pattern creates visual interest through the interplay of light and dark yarn colors, producing a shadowy, cloud-like effect that inspired the shawl's name.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch used in Cloudcover is stockinette stitch, a fundamental knit fabric created by alternating knit and purl rows to produce a smooth, V-textured surface. The gauge for this pattern is 22 stitches and 28 rows over a 4-inch square in stockinette stitch, measured after relaxed blocking. The pattern incorporates textured stripes achieved through strategic color changes between the main color and contrasting color yarns.

Materials and Tools

Cloudcover requires two weights of circular needles for construction:

• US #5 (3.75 mm) circular needles, 32 inches or longer
• US #7 (4.5 mm) circular needles, 32 inches or longer

The yarn used is Yummy Yarn Studio Merino Cashmere Nylon Fingering Weight Yarn, a luxury blend combining merino wool, cashmere, and nylon fibers. The pattern calls for approximately 300 yards each of two colorways:

• Light smoky gray (main color)
• Dark smoky gray (contrasting color)

Additional materials include stitch markers (optional) and a yarn needle for weaving in ends. The gauge is noted as not critical to the success of this project, making it an accessible pattern for knitters of varying experience levels.