Sea Cravings

Sea Cravings Shawl by Brixton Purl

What is Being Made

The Sea Cravings shawl is a triangular wrap designed by Therése Hedlund and published by Brixton Purl. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a large, elegant shawl with generous dimensions when blocked to a wingspan of 210cm and a deepest width of 82cm. The design is inspired by the designer's connection to coastal landscapes and the desire to capture the essence of the sea through colorwork.

Design and Colorwork

The shawl features a three-color fade design using the Giddy Yarns Turning tide set. While the pattern is designed to showcase three distinct colors, the design allows for creative flexibility—knitters can adjust the number of colors used and modify the color blends to create a personalized version that suits their preferences. The color distribution uses approximately 110 meters of Colour A, 413 meters of Colour B, and 410 meters of Colour C, allowing the shawl to transition smoothly through the color palette as it grows.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This intermediate project employs fundamental knitting techniques suitable for crafters with some experience. The primary stitch used is garter stitch, which creates a textured, reversible fabric with horizontal ridges. The pattern incorporates yarn overs as a design element, with a specific construction note: when the right side begins with a yarn over, this stitch is dropped on the wrong side rather than knitted through, creating intentional design details in the finished shawl.

The garter stitch construction provides both visual interest and structural stability for a large triangular shawl, while the yarn over elements add delicate openwork details to the design.

Materials and Specifications

• Yarn: Giddy Yarns Turning tide fade set, 3 x 100g skeins, 425 meters per 100g, composed of 75% merino and 25% nylon
• Yarn Weight: 4-ply sock yarn weight
• Total Yardage: Approximately 933 meters total (110m + 413m + 410m)
• Needles: 4mm needles
• Gauge: 20 stitches per 10cm in garter stitch (exact gauge is noted as not crucial for this project)

Pattern Notes

The pattern is forgiving regarding gauge precision, making it accessible to intermediate knitters who may not achieve exact gauge measurements. The merino and nylon blend of the yarn provides both softness and durability, with the nylon content adding elasticity and longevity to the finished shawl. The sock yarn weight combined with 4mm needles creates a fabric with excellent drape suitable for a large wrap. Knitters with naturally tight tension may benefit from using slightly larger needles to achieve the desired fabric characteristics.