Sail Away

Sail Away Knit Shawl by Brigitte Reydams

What is Being Made

Sail Away is an intermediate-level knit shawl designed by Brigitte Reydams. This downloadable PDF pattern creates a finished shawl measuring 80 inches in length and 18 inches in width, making it a generous triangular or crescent-shaped wrap suitable for layering or draping.

Yarn and Materials

The Sail Away shawl is constructed using one Prism Merino Mia Gradient Pack containing 8 skeins labeled 1 through 8. The yarn is a 4-ply weight, which provides a delicate yet durable fabric ideal for shawl construction. Knitting needles required include Size 6 needles for the main construction and Size 7 needles for finishing details.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs several fundamental knitting techniques to create visual interest and structure. The shawl begins with a garter tab cast-on, a popular method for starting shawls that creates a neat, finished edge. The construction incorporates pick-up stitches along the edges of the initial tab to transition into the main body of the shawl. Short rows are utilized throughout the pattern, indicated by the wrap and turn (W&t) technique, which allows the knitter to create shaping and depth without casting off stitches. This technique is essential for achieving the shawl's dimensional drape.

Stitches Used

The Sail Away pattern features a thoughtful combination of stitch patterns that work in harmony with the gradient yarn colors:

• Garter Stitch: Used in Color 1, creating a textured, reversible fabric that frames the shawl's beginning
• Stockinette Stitch: Featured in Colors 2, 4, 6, and 8, providing smooth, classic knit fabric that showcases the yarn's color transitions
• Seed Stitch: Incorporated in Colors 3, 5, and 7, adding subtle texture and visual variation throughout the shawl

Additional stitch abbreviations used in the pattern include KFB (knit front and back) for increases that shape the shawl's expansion, P2 together for decreases, and YO (yarn over) for creating decorative eyelets or lace elements.

Pattern Construction Details

The shawl construction begins with a small garter tab worked on 3 stitches for 6 rows, establishing a neat foundation. Stitches are then picked up along the sides and cast-on edge to create 9 stitches total. The set-up row and subsequent pattern rows employ strategic increases (KFB) positioned symmetrically to create balanced shaping. The repeating two-row sequence maintains consistent stitch pattern and increase placement, allowing the knitter to develop a rhythmic working pattern while the yarn's gradient colors create the primary visual design element.