Monticello

Monticello Asymmetric Triangle Shawl

Project Overview

Monticello is an asymmetric triangle shawl designed by All Knit Up Designs. This downloadable knitting pattern creates a striking yet accessible shawl suitable for intermediate-level knitters. The finished shawl measures 120 inches wide by 19 inches deep (305 cm wide by 48 cm deep), making it a generous wrap-style accessory.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

The Monticello shawl employs two primary knitting techniques to achieve its visual impact:

• Garter Stitch: Forms the foundation of this pattern, creating horizontal ridges and texture that are characteristic of garter stitch knitting. This fundamental technique involves knitting every row, making it accessible for intermediate knitters while building the shawl's structure.
• Mosaic Stitch: Simple mosaic stitches are incorporated throughout the design to create geometric visual interest. Mosaic knitting uses slipped stitches and color changes to produce intricate-looking patterns without the complexity of traditional colorwork techniques like stranded knitting.

The combination of garter stitch and mosaic stitch creates a visually striking pattern that appears more complex than the actual construction requires, making this an excellent intermediate project for knitters seeking to expand their technical skills.

Yarn Requirements and Materials

The Monticello pattern requires 1,206 yards (1,110 meters) of fingering weight yarn, distributed as follows:

• 950 yards (869 meters) of Main Color yarn
• 260 yards (238 meters) of Contrast Colors (divided among multiple contrast shades)

The pattern accommodates multiple yarn options, including Sweet Fiber Yarns Sweet Merino Light (100% Merino, 475 yards per 115 grams) and Wonderland Yarns Cheshire Cat (100% Merino, 512 yards per 113 grams). Both recommended yarns are pure merino wool, offering softness and elasticity ideal for shawl construction.

Needles and Gauge

This pattern requires US 5 (3.75mm) needles in a 32-inch (80 cm) circular needle or longer. The longer needle length accommodates the increasing stitch count as the asymmetric triangle expands during construction.

The recommended gauge is 20 stitches and 23 garter bumps over 4 inches (10 cm) in blocked garter stitch. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished dimensions and ensuring the mosaic stitch pattern displays as intended.

Additional Notions and Abbreviations

Beyond yarn and needles, the pattern requires a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and finishing. The pattern uses standard knitting abbreviations including K (knit), P (purl), K2TOG (knit two stitches together), KFB (knit front and back), and PWYIF (purlwise yarn in front), along with designations for multiple contrast colors (CC1, CC2, CC3, CC4).

Difficulty Level

Rated as an intermediate knitting project, Monticello is appropriate for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to explore colorwork and stitch pattern complexity. The straightforward garter stitch base combined with simple mosaic techniques provides an approachable introduction to multi-color knitting without requiring advanced techniques.