Upriver

Upriver Shawl by Laura Aylor

What is Being Made

Upriver is a triangular knitted shawl designed by Laura Aylor under the Fogbound Knits label. This intermediate-level project features a classic shawl silhouette with sophisticated design details that elevate a foundational garter-stitch construction. The finished shawl measures approximately 66 inches across the top edge and 21 inches deep after blocking, making it a versatile accessory suitable for layering or wearing as a wrap.

Design Features and Construction Techniques

The shawl showcases staggered shell mesh insets combined with a stepped bind-off, both of which add visual interest and textural variation to the piece. These design elements are integrated into a predominantly garter-stitch base, which provides a stable, reversible fabric with excellent drape. The stepped bind-off creates a finished edge with dimensional appeal, while the shell mesh insets introduce openwork sections that contrast with the solid garter-stitch areas.

Construction begins with increases worked at the end of wrong-side rows, allowing the triangular shawl to expand gradually from the top down. The pattern notes emphasize the importance of remembering these increases consistently, suggesting the use of a safety pin or locking marker as a visual aid during knitting.

Required Stitches and Techniques

Knitters working on Upriver will practice and refine several essential skills:

• Increasing – Used to shape the triangular silhouette throughout the project
• Decreasing – Incorporated into the stitch pattern and design details
• Double yarn overs and working into both loops – These create the openwork shell mesh insets and contribute to the lacy texture variations
• Garter stitch – The primary stitch that forms the foundation of the shawl

The pattern uses standard abbreviations and notation, including parentheses and brackets for repeats, braces for enclosed instructions, and specific abbreviations for techniques like double yarn overs and decreases.

Materials and Gauge

Upriver requires 600 yards of fingering-weight yarn, which is classified as 4-ply weight. The sample was knit in an 80/20 merino and silk blend, a fiber combination that provides softness, breathability, and a subtle sheen. This yarn choice contributes to the shawl's elegant drape and light weight, making it suitable for various seasons and styling occasions.

The pattern calls for US 3/3.25 mm needles or the size needed to obtain the specified gauge. The recommended gauge is 19 stitches in 4 inches of blocked garter stitch. The pattern notes that gauge is not critical, meaning that variations in gauge will primarily affect the finished size and total yardage required rather than the overall success of the project. This flexibility allows knitters to work with different yarn weights or needle sizes while maintaining the shawl's proportions and aesthetic.

Additional materials include stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats, a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, and blocking supplies to set the finished shawl and enhance its drape.

Skill Level and Pattern Notes

Upriver is rated as an intermediate-level project, making it suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle more complex stitch patterns and shaping techniques. The pattern includes helpful guidance, such as the recommendation to avoid slipping the first stitch on right-side rows, a technique that helps maintain clean, consistent edges. The emphasis on remembering increases at the end of wrong-side rows reflects the importance of consistent shaping in achieving the intended finished dimensions.