Unity

Unity Shawl by Brian Smith Designs

What is Being Made

The Unity shawl is an intermediate-level triangular knit shawl featuring a sophisticated three-color design. This downloadable knitting pattern creates a generous wingspan of 172cm with a depth of 60cm at the widest point, making it a substantial wrap suitable for layering or wearing as a statement piece. The shawl showcases color blocking with three distinct yarn shades that work together to create visual interest and depth.

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs several fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques that build upon each other throughout the construction. The shawl begins with a small cast-on edge and uses strategic increases to create the triangular silhouette. Yarn overs are used extensively to create decorative openwork and lace elements that add lightness to the finished garment. The pattern incorporates directional stitches and twisted stitches to add textural variation and visual movement across the fabric.

The construction method involves picking up stitches along edges to expand the working area, a technique commonly used in shawl design to create seamless, organic shapes. Blocking is an essential finishing step for this project, as it sets the stitches and allows the shawl to reach its full finished dimensions.

Stitches and Stitch Abbreviations

The Unity shawl utilizes the following key stitches and abbreviations:

• K (Knit): The fundamental knit stitch
• P (Purl): The reverse of the knit stitch, used for textural contrast
• YO (Yarn Over): Creates deliberate holes and lace effects by wrapping yarn around the needle
• K2tog (Knit Two Together): A left-leaning decrease that reduces stitch count
• Ssk (Slip Slip Knit): A right-leaning decrease created by slipping two stitches individually and knitting them together
• Yrn (Yarn Round Needle): An alternative yarn over method used on wrong-side rows
• RT (Right Twist): An advanced technique where two stitches are knitted together without dropping from the left needle, then the right needle is inserted between the worked stitches to create a twisted effect before slipping both stitches off

These stitches work in combination to create the shawl's structure, with garter stitch edges (created by knitting every row) providing stability, while the central sections feature stockinette stitch and lace elements.

Yarn and Materials

The Unity shawl is designed to be worked in John Arbon Harvest Hues yarn, a light aran-weight worsted yarn that provides excellent stitch definition and drape. The pattern calls for three coordinating color shades:

• Shade A (Juniper): 78 grams
• Shade B (Barley): 78 grams
• Shade C (Rosebay): 88 grams

The total yardage across all three colors provides sufficient material to complete the full wingspan and depth measurements. The worsted weight yarn works at a gauge of 16 stitches and 20 rows over 10 centimeters in blocked stockinette stitch, ensuring the shawl will have good structure and definition.

Needles and Notions

Construction requires UK 5mm/US 8 circular needles measuring 120 centimeters in length. The long circular needle accommodates the increasing stitch count as the shawl expands from the initial small cast-on. Additional supplies include a tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends and a blocking kit for the essential finishing process that sets the shawl's final dimensions and shape.

Finished Dimensions

After blocking, the completed Unity shawl measures 172 centimeters across the wingspan with a maximum depth of 60 centimeters, creating a large triangular wrap that provides substantial coverage and warmth.