Nuage shawl

Nuage Shawl by Marion Knits

What Is Being Made

The Nuage shawl is a lightweight, triangular shawl designed by Marion Knits. This downloadable knitting pattern produces a finished shawl with a wingspan of approximately 76¾ inches (195 cm) and a depth of 19¾ inches (50 cm) after blocking. The shawl is constructed as an elegant wrap suitable for layering or draping, making it a versatile accessory for various occasions and seasons.

Knitting Techniques Used

The Nuage shawl employs two primary knitting techniques to create its distinctive appearance and structure. Garter stitch forms the foundation and borders of the design, created by knitting every row on both the right side and wrong side. This creates a textured, reversible fabric with horizontal ridges. The main body features lace knitting, which introduces openwork patterns through strategic yarn overs and decreases, creating an airy, delicate aesthetic that contrasts beautifully with the garter stitch sections.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The pattern uses fundamental knitting stitches combined in a repeating lace sequence:

• Garter stitch: Knit every row (both right side and wrong side rows)
• Lace pattern repeat: A two-row sequence that alternates between right-side and wrong-side rows
  • Row 1 (Right Side): purl 1, knit 2, yarn over, knit 1, slip-slip-knit decrease, purl 1
  • Row 2 (Wrong Side): knit 1, purl 2, yarn over, purl 1, purl 2 together decrease, knit 1

The lace pattern creates a balanced openwork design through the combination of yarn overs (which add stitches) paired with decreases such as slip-slip-knit and purl 2 together (which remove stitches), maintaining stitch count while forming decorative holes.

Materials and Yarn Requirements

The Nuage shawl is designed to be knitted with two complementary yarns worked together:

• Main color (MC): Approximately 660 yards (600 meters) of light fingering weight yarn. The sample was created using a blend of 80% extra fine merino and 20% silk, with a yardage of 660 yards per 100 grams.
• Contrast color (CC): Approximately 460 yards (420 meters) of mohair yarn. The sample features 72% kid mohair and 28% silk, yielding 460 yards per 50 grams.

The two yarns are held together throughout the project, creating a luxurious blend that combines the warmth and softness of merino and mohair with the sheen and drape of silk. This combination produces a shawl with excellent elasticity and a refined appearance.

Needles and Tools

• Primary needles: US4 (3.5 mm) circular needles, 47¼ inches (120 cm) long, for the main body knitting
• Bind-off needles: US6 (4.0 mm) circular needles for the final bind-off edge
• Additional tools: A tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 21 stitches and 26 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) when working the lace stitches with both yarns held together on US4 (3.5 mm) circular needles, measured after blocking. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for obtaining the intended finished dimensions. Knitters may need to adjust needle size to match this gauge, as individual tension varies.

Difficulty Level

This shawl is rated as a beginner-friendly project, making it an excellent choice for knitters new to shawl construction. While the pattern incorporates lace knitting—which involves yarn overs and decreases—the repeating two-row pattern is straightforward to follow and memorize. The garter stitch sections provide visual breaks and are simple to execute, allowing beginners to build confidence while creating a sophisticated finished garment.