PawPrints

PawPrints Shawlette by Michael Harrigan

What is Being Made

PawPrints is a knitted bandana-style shawlette designed by Michael Harrigan, a Certified Master Knitter and Knitting Technical Editor. This triangular shawlette combines functionality and decorative appeal, featuring a finished wingspan of 40 inches and a height of 20 inches. The design is suitable for wearing as a bandana or lightweight shoulder wrap, making it a versatile accessory piece for knitters of all experience levels.

Construction and Techniques

The shawlette is constructed using a bottom-up approach, beginning from a single point at the base and expanding outward. The primary shaping technique involves strategic increases worked along the edges of all right-side rows, creating the characteristic triangular silhouette. This method allows knitters to gradually expand the fabric while maintaining control over the final dimensions.

The design incorporates a traditional Shetland Cat's Paw eyelet pattern throughout both the central panel and the topline of the shawlette. Eyelet patterns create small decorative holes in the knitted fabric, adding visual interest and a delicate, lacy quality to the finished piece. An optional decorative tassel can be attached to the bottom point after blocking, providing an additional embellishment for those who wish to customize their finished shawlette.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The foundational stitch used in this pattern is garter stitch, which creates a textured, reversible fabric with horizontal ridges. Garter stitch is worked by knitting every row, making it an accessible choice for beginner knitters. The gauge for garter stitch is established at 20 stitches and 48 rows over 4 inches in a 10-centimeter measurement.

The Cat's Paw stitch pattern is the signature decorative element of this shawlette. This traditional Shetland motif is worked over a multiple of 7 stitches and is charted for easy reference throughout the pattern. The eyelet details created by the Cat's Paw pattern provide a refined, heirloom quality to the finished accessory.

Materials and Yarn

PawPrints is designed to be worked in Eden Cottage Yarns HAYTON 4-PLY, a premium yarn blend composed of 80% Merino wool, 10% cashmere, and 10% nylon. Each skein contains 100 grams of yarn with 350 meters of yardage. The pattern calls for one skein each of two colorways: Briar Rose (Color A) and Cosmos Flowerbed (Color B), allowing knitters to create a two-color design or work the entire shawlette in a single color if preferred.

The recommended needle size is US size 4 (3.5mm), worked as a 32-inch circular needle or the size needed to achieve the specified gauge. Additional materials include two stitch markers to help track pattern repeats and shaping increases, and a tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends and attaching the optional tassel.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is classified as beginner-friendly, making it an excellent choice for knitters new to shawlette construction or eyelet patterns. The straightforward bottom-up construction and reliance on fundamental stitches like garter stitch and basic increases make PawPrints accessible to those building their knitting skills, while the traditional Shetland Cat's Paw motif provides an opportunity to learn decorative stitch patterns in a manageable context.