Spiralsea

Spiralsea Knitted Shawl by Nim Teasdale

What Is Being Made

Spiralsea is a warm and cosy triangular shawl designed to hug the body and provide protection against cold weather. The design features bold oceanic lines and is worked to finished dimensions of 165x65cm (65x25in) after blocking, making it a generous wrap suitable for layering and everyday wear.

Design and Construction Technique

The shawl is constructed using a combination of relaxing striped garter stitch with a spiral pattern formed through slipped stitches. The designer employs strategic shaping techniques at the edges to achieve the triangular silhouette. The mosaic knit technique, traditionally known for slower progress, knits up surprisingly quickly when worked in heavier yarn weights, making this an efficient project despite its bold patterning.

The pattern is straightforward enough to memorise after the first few repeats, allowing knitters to work in a meditative rhythm once familiar with the stitch sequence. Sizing is adaptable to accommodate different yarn weights and personal preferences, giving knitters flexibility in the final dimensions.

Stitches Used

• Garter stitch (striped)
• Slipped stitches (for mosaic pattern and spiral formation)
• Edge shaping techniques for triangular construction

Yarn and Materials

Spiralsea accommodates a range of yarn weights from heavy fingering through to Aran weight, with the pattern working across DK, worsted, and varied weights. The pictured sample was knit using 450m (495y) of The Fibre Co. Arranmore yarn on 4.5mm (US size 7) needles.

The pattern is ideal for showcasing two contrasting or complementary yarn skeins. Knitters can experiment with solid yarn paired with variegated, speckled, or gradient options to create dynamic visual results that enhance the oceanic theme of the design.

Difficulty Level

Spiralsea is rated as an intermediate knitting project, suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to explore mosaic techniques and shaping methods.