Hippie Chic Shawl

Hippie Chic Shawl by Char Kohl

What Is Being Made

The Hippie Chic Shawl is a knitted shawl design created by independent designer Char Kohl. This is an intermediate-level knitting project worked in the round using a circular needle, resulting in a finished piece with specific blocking dimensions detailed within the pattern instructions.

Knitting Techniques Used

This shawl employs several fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques to create its structure and visual interest. The pattern utilizes circular knitting on a 32-inch circular needle, which allows for seamless construction. The design incorporates panel repeats with nested motif instructions, creating a layered approach to pattern complexity. Decreasing techniques are central to the shawl's shaping, while yarn overs add lace elements and decorative texture throughout the piece.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The Hippie Chic Shawl employs a range of essential knitting stitches and abbreviations:

• Knit (K) and Purl (P) stitches form the foundational fabric
• Yarn overs (yo) create openwork and lace effects characteristic of shawl design
• K2tog (knit two stitches together) provides right-leaning decreases
• SSKPO (slip, slip, knit, pass over) creates left-leaning decreases and adds visual balance to the decreasing sequences
• Slip marker (sm) and place marker (pm) techniques help track pattern repeats and shaping sections

The pattern uses parentheses to denote shawl panel repeats and brackets to indicate directions for motifs contained within those repeats, allowing knitters to work complex stitch patterns systematically.

Materials and Yarn Requirements

The Hippie Chic Shawl calls for Elsebeth Lavold Bamboucle yarn in an Aran weight, requiring 7 skeins totaling approximately 609 yards (560 meters). Bamboucle is a specialty yarn blend combining cotton, bamboo, and linen fibers, creating a yarn with excellent drape and breathability ideal for shawl construction. The designer notes that if substituting yarn, a similar cotton/bamboo/linen blend in Aran weight is strongly recommended to achieve the intended finished dimensions and fabric characteristics.

Tools and Notions

Construction requires a US size 10 (6 mm) circular needle measuring 32 inches (81 cm) in length, appropriate for working the shawl's circumference. The pattern also calls for 7 stitch markers to track pattern repeats and shaping sections, and a tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends upon completion.

Difficulty Level and Pattern Structure

Rated as an intermediate skill level project, the Hippie Chic Shawl is suitable for knitters with foundational knowledge of circular knitting and comfortable working with stitch markers and pattern repeats. The pattern instructions are clearly organized with comprehensive abbreviations and notation systems, making it accessible for knitters ready to advance beyond basic projects while still offering engaging technical challenges.