Comber

Comber Shawl by Verena Cohrs

What is Being Made

Comber is a knitted shawl design by independent designer Verena Cohrs. This is a one-size customisable shawl with finished dimensions of 46 cm (18 inches) in width and 196 cm (77.25 inches) in length, making it a generous wrap suitable for various styling options.

Yarn Options and Materials

The Comber pattern offers flexibility with four distinct yarn weight options from Oysters and Purls, allowing crafters to choose based on their preferred fiber content and yardage requirements:

• BFL / Merino (Fingering-weight): 50% Blue-Faced Leicester, 50% Merino blend offering 320 metres (350 yards) per 100g
• Corriedale (Sport-weight): 100% Corriedale providing 282 metres (308 yards) per 100g
• Alpaca / Corriedale (DK-weight): 50% Alpaca, 50% Corriedale blend with 201 metres (220 yards) per 100g
• Romney / Merino (DK-weight): 60% Romney, 40% Merino combination yielding 219 metres (240 yards) per 100g

The total yardage required is 815 metres (891 yards). Knitters need only select one yarn option from those listed. Additional materials include a darning needle, stitch marker, tape measure, and optional blocking tools.

Techniques Used

The Comber shawl employs a Provisional Cast-On technique, which allows for a reversible edge and is particularly useful in shawl construction. This method enables the crafter to return to live stitches later if desired, providing design flexibility and a polished finish.

Stitch Patterns

The pattern utilizes Garter Stitch as its primary stitch pattern, worked in two configurations:

• Garter Stitch Worked Flat: Row 1 (Right Side) and Row 1 (Wrong Side) both consist of knitting all stitches, creating the characteristic bumpy texture
• Garter Stitch Worked in the Round: Alternating knit rounds with purl rounds to achieve the same garter stitch appearance when working circularly

Garter stitch is a fundamental knitting technique that creates a reversible, textured fabric with excellent drape—ideal for shawl designs. The simplicity of this stitch pattern makes it accessible while the resulting fabric remains visually interesting and versatile.

Difficulty Level

Comber is rated as an intermediate-level knitting project. While garter stitch itself is a beginner-friendly technique, the intermediate classification likely reflects the shawl's size, the provisional cast-on technique, and the overall construction process that requires attention to stitch counts and finishing details.