Linna Shawl

Linna Shawl by Emily J. Designs

What Is Being Made

The Linna Shawl is a triangular wrap-style shawl designed as a beginner-friendly knitting project. This downloadable PDF pattern creates a finished shawl measuring 21 inches (53.5 centimeters) deep and 60 inches (152.5 centimeters) wide, making it a generous accessory suitable for layering or draping across the shoulders.

Construction Method and Design

The Linna Shawl is knit from the top down, beginning with a small center neck tab. The shawlette is then worked downward toward the hem using strategic increases that shape the triangular silhouette. This top-down construction method allows knitters to try on the piece as it grows and customize the final length if desired. The shawl is finished with a decorative picot bind off, which creates a delicate, finished edge with small loops along the hem.

Stitches and Techniques

This pattern is ideal for beginners because it relies almost exclusively on garter stitch, which is created by knitting every row. Garter stitch is one of the most fundamental and meditative knitting stitches, producing a reversible fabric with prominent horizontal ridges. The pattern incorporates several essential knitting techniques:

• Yarn overs (yo) – deliberate increases that create small decorative holes and add width to the shawl
• Picking up stitches – a technique used to create the initial shawl body from the cast-on edge and side edges of the neck tab
• Knitting through the back loop (tbl) – a variation that twists stitches for subtle texture
• Picot bind off – a finishing technique that creates a pretty, scalloped edge

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Linna Shawl requires 3 skeins of Lion Brand Touch of Alpaca yarn in worsted weight. Each skein contains 207 yards (190 meters) and weighs 3.5 ounces (100 grams). This yarn blend is 90% acrylic and 10% alpaca, combining the softness and warmth of alpaca with the durability and affordability of acrylic fiber. The pattern is shown in colorway 108 Dusty Blue.

Knitters will need US 10 (6 millimeter) circular needles measuring 32 inches (80 centimeters) in length, or a needle size that achieves the specified gauge. Circular needles are used for this project even though the shawl is not worked in the round, as they accommodate the increasing number of stitches comfortably. One stitch marker is required to denote pattern repeats and shaping sections.

Gauge and Difficulty Level

The pattern specifies a gauge of 15 stitches and 32 rows equaling 4 inches (10 centimeters) in garter stitch. Notably, the pattern indicates that gauge is not critical for this project, making it forgiving for beginners who may struggle to match gauge exactly. The Linna Shawl is classified as a beginner-level project, making it an excellent choice for knitters new to shawl construction or those seeking a relaxing, meditative knitting experience with minimal pattern complexity.