Fade Side to Side Triangle Shawl - Confluence

Fade Side to Side Triangle Shawl - Confluence

What is Being Made

The Confluence Shawl is a triangular shawl designed by Dana Kikic Nemmert that features a fade color progression knitted side to side. This construction method allows the knitter to work the shawl horizontally, creating a gradient effect as colors transition across the finished piece. The shawl uses approximately 300 grams of fingering weight yarn, divided into three fade colors at roughly 100 grams each, making it an ideal project for stash diving and creative color experimentation.

Techniques Used

The Fade Side to Side Triangle Shawl employs several key knitting techniques to achieve its distinctive construction and appearance. The shawl is worked using an I-cord cast-on, which creates a neat, finished edge that serves as the foundation for the side-to-side construction method. This approach allows knitters to build the triangle by working perpendicular to the traditional top-down or bottom-up orientation, resulting in the fade effect as new colors are introduced throughout the knitting process.

The pattern incorporates yarn overs for creating decorative increases and shaping the triangular silhouette. Knitters will also work stitches through the back loop in select areas, a technique that creates a twisted stitch effect for textural interest or stitch definition. The use of markers helps track pattern repeats and construction points throughout the project, which is essential when working a shaped garment with color transitions.

Stitches Used

The Confluence Shawl utilizes fundamental knitting stitches as its foundation:

• Knit stitches form the primary fabric structure
• Purl stitches add textural variation and definition
• Yarn overs create decorative increases for shaping and lace elements
• Slipped stitches contribute to edge finishing and stitch manipulation
• Through-the-back-loop stitches (both knit and purl) add twisted texture and stitch definition where needed

Materials and Tools

The Confluence Shawl is designed to be worked with fingering weight yarn, requiring approximately 300 grams total (about 400 meters per 100 grams). The pattern accommodates creative yarn choices, encouraging knitters to use any combination of colors from their stash in three fade colors. The example shown uses Uschitita Merino Singles in the colorways Canyon, Lullaby, and Studio.

Needles required include 3.5mm (US4) circular knitting needles or the equivalent size to achieve the specified gauge, with the option to substitute regular knitting needles combined with double-pointed needles (dpns) for the I-cord cast-on if circular needles are unavailable. Additional tools include a blunt-end tapestry needle (darning needle) for weaving in ends and yarn markers for tracking pattern repeats.

Gauge and Difficulty

The pattern specifies a gauge of 22 stitches by 29 rows in 10 centimeters (4 inches) when worked in the stitch pattern with fingering weight yarn on 3.5mm needles. This project is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle shaping techniques, color work, and the unique construction method of side-to-side triangle shawls.