Momijigari

Momijigari Shawl by Beth Kling

What is Being Made

Momijigari is a triangular shawl design created by independent designer Beth Kling. This downloadable knitting pattern produces a finished shawl measuring 78 inches (198 cm) wide by 12 inches (30.5 cm) deep, making it an elegant accessory suitable for layering or draping. The shawl is worked flat on circular needles and showcases a classic triangular silhouette that works beautifully in variegated or solid colorways.

Difficulty Level

Momijigari is rated as a beginner-friendly pattern, making it an excellent choice for knitters new to shawl construction or those building foundational skills in garment shaping and finishing techniques.

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs fundamental knitting techniques appropriate for beginners while creating visual interest through strategic stitch placement. The shawl utilizes garter stitch as the primary fabric structure, which is created by knitting every row when working flat. This creates a reversible, textured fabric with excellent drape and elasticity. The design incorporates yarn overs for shaping and decorative increases, combined with strategic decreases to form the triangular silhouette. The pattern uses centered double decreases and paired decreases to create balanced shaping, demonstrating how decreases can be used both functionally and decoratively in shawl design.

Stitches and Abbreviations

The pattern uses the following essential stitches and techniques:

• k — knit stitch
• p — purl stitch
• yo — yarn over (creates an eyelet or lace hole while increasing)
• kfb — knit into front and back of same stitch (increase)
• k2tog — knit 2 together (single right-leaning decrease)
• p2tog — purl 2 together (decrease on wrong side)
• ssk — slip, slip, knit (single left-leaning decrease)
• sl2, k1, psso — centered double decrease (slip 2 stitches together as if to knit, knit 1, pass both slipped stitches over the knit stitch, resulting in 2 stitches decreased)

Materials and Yarn Requirements

Momijigari requires minimal yardage, making it an economical project. The pattern calls for 1 skein of Dream In Color special mohair and wool blend yarn, which contains 52% mohair and 48% wool. This blend provides softness, warmth, and beautiful drape characteristics ideal for shawl construction. The yarn provides 410 yards (375 meters) per 3.5 ounce (100 gram) skein and is classified as 4-ply weight, a medium-weight yarn suitable for creating fabric with good definition and structure.

The pattern was originally shown in the October 2011 Dream in Color Dream Club colorway, though the design works beautifully in any colorway of compatible yarn.

Needles and Notions

The pattern requires US 5 (3.75 mm) circular needles measuring at least 24 inches long. Circular needles are used here for their ability to accommodate the increasing stitch count as the triangular shawl grows, even though the shawl is worked flat rather than in the round. Additional notions include a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and optional T-pins and wires for blocking to achieve finished dimensions and even edges.

Gauge

The pattern is worked to a gauge of 6.5 stitches and 13 rows per inch (2.5 cm) in garter stitch, measured on knit fabric that is knit flat and unblocked. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements of 78 inches wide by 12 inches deep.