Isabelle Shawl

Isabelle Shawl by Emily J. Designs

What is Being Made

The Isabelle Shawl is an elegant triangular knit shawl designed by Emily Johannes. This piece measures 23.5 inches long at the spine and 62 inches wide (59.5 x 157.5 cm), making it a substantial accessory suitable for layering or draping. The shawl features decorative hand-dyed yarn that enhances the stitch work throughout the design, with small knots speckling the body and a beautiful scallop-and-fan gingko leaf border that adds visual interest and dimension to the finished piece.

Construction and Techniques

The Isabelle Shawl employs a top-down knitting construction method, beginning with a center neck tab. The shawl is worked with strategic increases throughout to gradually expand from the neck opening to the full width at the bottom edge. This construction approach allows knitters to try on the shawl as it develops and customize the final size if desired. The design incorporates lace work elements, particularly in the distinctive scallop-and-fan gingko leaf border that frames the lower edge of the shawl.

Stitches Used

The pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined with shaping techniques. Key stitches include:

• Knit (K) – the basic knit stitch forming the foundation of stockinette sections
• K2tog – knit 2 stitches together as 1, used for decreasing and creating lace effects
• P2tog – purl 2 stitches together as 1, used for decreasing on wrong-side rows
• P2tog tbl – purl 2 stitches together through the back loop, creating a twisted decrease

The body is worked primarily in stockinette stitch (knit on right-side rows, purl on wrong-side rows), which provides a smooth canvas for the hand-dyed yarn to showcase its color variations. The lace border incorporates yarn overs and decreases to create the characteristic scallop-and-fan gingko leaf motif.

Materials and Yarn

The Isabelle Shawl is designed for DK and Sport weight yarns, offering flexibility in yarn selection. The sample shown uses Ella Rae Lace Merino DK, a discontinued yarn option, requiring 2.5 skeins (302 yards per skein, 100% merino wool). For knitters seeking an alternative, the pattern recommends substituting with The Plucky Knitter Primo Sport in the color Laverne, requiring 3 skeins (275 yards per skein, composed of 75% merino wool, 20% cashmere, and 5% nylon). Both yarn options are luxurious natural fiber blends that take hand dye beautifully and provide the drape and softness appropriate for a shawl.

Needles and Gauge

The Isabelle Shawl is knit on US 6 (4mm) circular needles measuring 40 inches or 80 centimeters in length, or a size adjusted to obtain the correct gauge. The pattern also requires 4 stitch markers to track pattern repeats and shaping increases. The target gauge is 21 stitches and 30 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) in stockinette stitch, which should be verified before beginning the project to ensure proper finished dimensions.

Difficulty Level

The Isabelle Shawl is rated as an intermediate knitting project. While it uses basic knitting stitches, the combination of lace work, shaping increases, and the need to maintain gauge and pattern consistency throughout a large project makes it suitable for knitters with some experience beyond the absolute beginner level. The top-down construction and use of stitch markers help manage complexity as the shawl expands.